Queanbeyan police pulled their guns on the driver of a stolen vehicle after it allegedly reversed into them in a Jerrabomberra driveway on Friday.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
or signup to continue reading
Police then pursued the white Mercedes SUV into the ACT. They allege there were six people in the vehicle at the time. Three people are still on the run.
On Saturday, a 19-year-old Pearce man faced Queanbeyan Local Court while two other men, both from the ACT, faced the ACT Magistrates Court.
In a statement of facts tendered to Queanbeyan Local Court, it is alleged police saw a stolen Toyota parked across the garage of a home in Bicentennial Drive.
Police parked at the entrance to the driveway and knocked on the door of the home. Police allegedly heard scuffling and footsteps in the residence. Police walked around to the back of the house where they heard voices and an engine start from inside the garage.
Police heard skid noises before the white Mercedes, which they recognised as stolen some five days prior, crashed through the garage door and into the stolen Toyota parked outside. Court documents said two police officers were required to take "immediate evasive action", and "jumped out of the path of the vehicle".
The Mercedes then allegedly went back and forward as it continued to collide with the Toyota in the escape attempt.
Police said the officers drew their batons and smashed the driver's window, however "fearing they may sustain injury and their lives were in danger", drew their guns, ordering the driver to stop.
The driver, allegedly ignoring police, continued to collide with the second car, and then collided with one of the police officer's legs. The police officer suffered a large laceration and swelling to his left shin.
The car fled the scene, and police allege upon exiting the driveway collided with the police car in what they believe was an attempt to disable the vehicle.
Police entered the pursuit, which continued onto Lanyon Drive and into the ACT, ending in Coyne Street, near Fadden Pines after the stolen vehicle began producing "a large amount of smoke".
At this stage, it is alleged police apprehended one man still in the car and two other men in bushland. Two females and a fourth man escaped.
The alleged driver of the vehicle, Jake Alexander, 19, of Pearce was charged with using an offensive weapon to prevent lawful detention, the police pursuit and assaulting a police officer causing actual bodily harm.
Alexander was granted bail in Queanbeyan Local Court with strict reporting conditions and is not allowed within NSW except to attend court.
The duty solicitor suggested Alexander will argue he was not the driver of the car and that accurate identification was not possible due to the event taking place at night and the speed at which events unfolded. He claims he was in the back seat of the vehicle, where he was apprehended, the whole time.
Alexander is due back in court on Monday where formal pleas can be entered.
Jonathan Monaghan, 27, of Wanniassa, and Frederick Robert James Charles, 25, of Braddon, appeared in ACT Magistrates Court on Saturday morning in relation to the incident.
The court heard Monaghan, charged with riding in a stolen car and resisting police, is already on parole in the ACT. He did not apply for bail.
Charles pleaded not guilty to the charge of riding in a stolen car. Bail was applied for but refused. The court heard he is also facing separate charges in the ACT.
They will appear again in court at a later date.
