Op Ricketier off to a flying start

A man will appear in court today following a lengthy pursuit across the north western suburbs of Melbourne yesterday.

The 36-year-old man was spotted with allegedly stolen plates in Fox Street St Albans, as part of Operation Ricketier, on Monday 12 October about 6.30pm.

Public Order Response Team officers attempted to intercept the VW Golf before it sped off from police.

Air wing officers picked up where police on the ground left off and tracked the vehicle through a number of suburbs to Preston where a tyre deflation device was successfully deployed at the corner of High and Tyler streets about 7.20pm.

The Kensington driver continued on in the vehicle for a short time before he dumped the car and attempted to run from police.

He was arrested following a short foot pursuit and a subsequent search of the vehicle uncovered an alleged loaded firearm, seven knives and drugs.

Caroline Springs Acting Senior Sergeant Nick Di Mieri said police have no tolerance for those who engage in risky behaviour.

“A coordinated effort by uniform police, air wing officers, unmarked police vehicles and other specialist units saw a successful and safe resolution of the situation which avoided harm to not only to our community but to police and the man himself,” A/S/Sgt Di Mieri said.

The man received 30 charges including reckless conduct endangering life, reckless conduct endangering serious injury, drive in a manner dangerous, speed dangerous, unlicensed driving, theft of and from motor vehicle and prohibited person possess a firearm.

He was also charged with failing to comply with a stay at home direction issued by the Chief Health Officer while in a State of Emergency.

Police are also investigating whether the man was allegedly involved in over 30 theft from motor vehicles in Hillside over the last few weeks; the investigation remains ongoing.

The man was held over to appear at Sunshine Magistrates’ Court today, Tuesday 13 October 2020.

The arrest forms part of Operation Ricketier, an operation aimed at detecting and deterring dangerous driving as well as high harm offending throughout Caroline Springs and surrounding suburbs.

Local police have teamed up with the Brimbank Highway Patrol, Air Wing, Dog Squad, Mounted Branch and the Brimbank Offender Management Team as part of the operation.

/Public Release. View in full here.