A man has been charged with seven driving-related offences following a police pursuit in the state’s Illawarra Region this morning.
About 12.30am today (Sunday 14 November 2021), officers attached to Lake Illawarra Highway Patrol were conducting stationary speed enforcement duties at the M1 Motorway, near the Albion Park Rail Bypass, at Yallah, when they detected a stolen Mitsubishi Triton utility travelling at 121km/h in a signposted 100km/h zone.
The driver allegedly failed to stop as directed by police and a pursuit was initiated, travelling along the M1 Motorway at Dapto, before being terminated due to the manner of driving.
With assistance from PolAir, the vehicle was located at a carpark at George Street, Warilla, just before 1am.
When officers arrived, the passenger – a 22-year-old man – was arrested after exiting the vehicle. An amount of cannabis was located in his possession and seized.
Upon sighting police, the driver – a 23-year-old man – returned to the Mitsubishi and allegedly accelerated into a grass courtyard in an attempt to evade police.
The driver then rammed a parked car and continued driving, causing officers to take evasive action to avoid being hit.
The man drove the Mitsubishi from the carpark, travelling west on George Street before stopping at a reserve at Benaud Crescent.
Officers attended and located the man hiding in a creek, where he was arrested, and the vehicle seized for further examination.
Both men were taken to Lake Illawarra Police Station, before the driver was taken to Shellharbour Hospital for observation and mandatory testing.
He was subsequently returned to Lake Illawarra Police Station and charged with;
- police pursuit – not stop – drive at speed,
- drive recklessly/furiously or speed/manner dangerous,
- take and drive conveyance without consent of owner,
- drive vehicle under influence of alcohol,
- Class A motor vehicle exceed speed greater than 10 km/h (radar),
- licence expired less than 2 years before, and,
- use offensive weapon in company to prevent detention.
Police will allege in court that the man stole the Mitsubishi Triton from a home at Albion Park just after midnight today (Sunday 14 November 2021).
The Warilla man was refused bail and is due to appear at Wollongong Bail Court today.
The passenger was released from custody and will be issued a Court Attendance Notice (CAN) for possess prohibited drug. The Albion Park man is due to appear at court at a later date.
Investigations into the incident are continuing.
