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ACT News

Drunk learner driver in police chase

February 1, 2012

A teenage burglary suspect has been accused of drunkenly fleeing from police at more than 120km/h through residential streets and crashing a stolen car.

Daniel Quis, 19, allegedly drove on footpaths and on the median strip, ran red lights and repeatedly switched off his headlights to try to evade police.

Police say the learner driver was drunk and fled on foot after crashing into the carport of apartments in Lyneham.

He was allegedly wearing socks on his hands to avoid leaving fingerprints in the car.

In the ACT Magistrates Court yesterday, the Wanniassa teen was charged with furious or reckless driving, car theft, aggravated burglary, drink driving and failing to obey the direction of a police officer.

Police allege Quis and an unknown male co-offender smashed glass doors at the Woden Southern Cross Club at about 1am yesterday morning and stole cash, a cash register and a folder with membership information before fleeing in a white car.

At about 3.10am police on patrol at the Gungahlin Lakes club saw a white car driving slowly in the club car park and followed it out on to the street.

When officers tried to pull the car over, Quis allegedly fled along Gundaroo Drive and then drove on to the footpath before running through a red light and speeding through Kosciuszko Avenue in Palmerston.

Police allege Quis switched off his headlights to try to avoid them.

Another patrol car picked up the pursuit a short time later and tried to stop Quis but he allegedly drove over the median strip on the Barton Highway to do a U-turn and spun out before again speeding at more than 120km/h through residential streets in Kaleen and Lyneham.

The court heard Quis repeatedly drove with his headlights switched off and mounted the footpath before speeding into an apartment complex and crashing through wooden bollards and into a car port.

The other man fled and Quis was arrested as he ran across Northbourne Avenue. He returned a blood alcohol reading of 0.069.

A police witness told the court there were fears Quis would abscond if granted bail, given his numerous attempts to evade police before his arrest.

He said the young man could also attempt to contact his alleged co-offender and interfere with the investigation into the burglary at the Southern Cross Club.

But Quis' defence lawyer said his client would defend some of the charges against him, particularly the driving charges. He said Quis had ties to the community and lived with his mother.

The lawyer also said Quis was willing to comply with strict bail conditions such as reporting to police every day and a night-time curfew. Magistrate Beth Campbell said the case against Quis appeared strong and indicated ''appalling conduct'' by such a young man.

Ms Campbell said there was nothing Quis could say to give her reason to believe he would abide by bail conditions. She refused bail and remanded Quis to later in the month.