Police have charged a 36-year-old man with 23 offences following a series of incidents which occurred in the early hours of Monday morning, January 22, in the Townsville and Ingham areas, Queensland Police say.
Around 2am police were driving along Woolcock Street, Townsville when a vehicle, allegedly travelling on the incorrect side of the road, drove towards them.
Police avoided the vehicle before completing a u-turn and attempted to intercept the car. The vehicle allegedly failed to stop and continued driving north along the Bruce Highway towards Ingham.
Around 3am a member of the public called police advising them of a vehicle travelling north on the incorrect side of the road near Ingham.
Patrolling police located the vehicle parked on the footpath in front of the Ingham Police Station, however the vehicle sped off. Police attempted to intercept the vehicle, which was observed to have a blown tyre and driving on its rim, but the vehicle again allegedly failed to stop.
The vehicle pulled into a petrol station location on Townsville Road, Ingham, with the driver allegedly driving dangerous around the fuel pumps before speeding towards the police vehicle, narrowly avoiding a collision.
Police will allege the man drove at the police vehicle several more times before reversing at speed into the glass front doors of the service station. The doors were destroyed but fortunately two staff members inside were uninjured.
The man once again drove his vehicle at the police car, narrowly avoiding another collision, before driving off on Townsville Street – where he performed a u-turn and again drove directly at a police vehicle with officers again avoiding a collision.
The man re-entered the petrol station carpark where he rammed the passenger side of a police vehicle, causing significant damage to both vehicles.
Police were then able to forcibly remove the man from the vehicle, as he had braced himself inside the car and refused police directions.
Three children, aged 11, 5 and 2, were inside the man’s vehicle. All three were transported to hospital for observation. It is believed they were not physically injured as a result of the incidents.
A 36-year-old Peeramon man was denied police bail and remanded in custody of appear in the Townsville Magistrates Court today charged with 23 offences:
- seven counts of the dangerous operation of a motor vehicle
- two counts of endangering children by exposure
- two counts of failing to stop a motor vehicle
- two counts of serious assault police
- one count of threatening violence
- three counts of wilful damage
- one count of wilful damage of police property
- three counts of the contravention of a domestic violence order
- two counts of obstructing police
If you have information for police, contact Policelink on 131 444 or provide information using the online form 24hrs per day.
You can report information about crime anonymously to Crime Stoppers.
