Police believe a fugitive who escaped custody on Saturday may be travelling in a vehicle after last being seen in the East Perth area.

A major manhunt kicked off after Laurie John Junior Dodd, 44, escaped custody at Royal Perth Hospital on Saturday.

Mr Dodd was this week arrested after allegedly leading police on a car chase and punching a police dog during a violent altercation with officers in the early hours of Thursday morning.

Police said Mr Dodd led them on a chase throughout Morley and Bayswater before he was arrested, seriously injuring an officer, who required stitches in his hand, during a violent struggle.