An alleged hoon who performed burnouts dangerously close to around 200 people was one of two dozen people arrested during a major operation in Hume last week.
The police Air Wing - brought in to patrol the area as part of Operation Nighthawk - first spotted the illegal hoon gathering at the intersection of Aiken Boulevard and Donnybrook Road in Mickleham about 11.35pm last Tuesday.
A vehicle, bearing stolen plates, was observed allegedly performing burnouts in front of around 200 vehicles, before taking off at speed prior to officers on ground arriving.
Air Wing tracked the vehicle from the sky and led officers to its location in Craigieburn where they attempted to intercept the vehicle.
The driver allegedly refused to stop and continued at speed throughout Sunbury and Brunswick before officers successfully deployed stop sticks in Fawkner.
The vehicle lost a tyre but continued travelling through a Campbellfield carpark, before heading to Broadmeadows.
The driver subsequently crashed the vehicle into a house on Holberry Road and all four occupants were quickly arrested by police.
The male driver, aged 18 from Greenvale, was charged with 16 offences including dangerous driving while being pursued by police, reckless conduct endangering serious injury, fail to stop on police direction and theft of motor vehicle.
Two Greenvale men, aged 18 and 20, and a 17-year-old boy from New South Wales were charged with theft of motor vehicle and handling stolen goods.
No one inside the property was injured and the hoon gathering is now being investigated by Fawkner Highway Patrol.
Police working Nighthawk arrested a further 21 people during the operation and charged them with more than 100 offences.
Those arrested include:
- A 30-year-old man who was sighted by police after allegedly crashing a Nissan SUV into a civilian's vehicle in Roxburgh Park about 11.50pm on Monday 13 October. Officers on ground attempted to intercept the driver in Dallas but he allegedly failed to stop and continued down Barry Road. Air Wing followed from above and observed the Nissan allegedly drive into a shopping centre carpark while in convoy with a BMW sedan. Police will allege the 30-year-old was picked up by the driver of the BMW and the pair continued towards Dallas. Officers on ground successfully intercepted the BMW at the intersection of Barry Road and Blair Street and a search of the vehicle located methylamphetamine and ammunition. The driver of the Nissan, from Dallas, was charged with 15 offences including failing to stop on police direction, reckless conduct endangering serious injury, dangerous driving while pursued by police, trafficking methylamphetamine and driving while under the influence of drugs. He was remanded in custody. The BMW driver, aged 30 from Meadow Heights, was charged with trafficking methylamphetamine, possessing heroin, handling stolen goods, possessing a controlled weapon, unlicensed driving and possessing cartridge ammunition.
- A 23-year-old man who allegedly failed to stop for police while driving erratically on the Hume Highway on-ramp in Somerton about 3.50am on Wednesday 15 October. The Air Wing followed the vehicle while officers on the ground successfully deployed stop sticks on Plenty Road in Thomastown. The driver got out of the vehicle on the same road and was arrested by police shortly after. The Craigieburn man had his vehicle impounded and was charged with a string of offences including dangerous driving while being pursued by police, reckless conduct endangering serious injury and driving in a manner dangerous. He was remanded to appear before court at a later date.
- Two men, aged 19 and 20, who were observed by Air Wing allegedly speeding in a stolen Porsche in Roxburgh Park just after midnight on Thursday 16 October. Officers from above detected the vehicle reaching alleged speeds of 120/km in a 70km/h zone. Officers on the ground attempted to intercept the vehicle, which had cloned plates affixed, but the driver allegedly failed to stop for police. The Air Wing followed the vehicle to Eucalyptus Place in Meadow Heights and observed the pair exit the vehicle and walk off on foot. Officers on ground located the pair and arrested them shortly after. It was later established the Porsche was stolen during an alleged aggravated burglary in Hawthorn on 9 October. The 20-year-old, from Meadow Heights, was charged with dangerous driving whilst being pursued by police, trafficking cocaine, theft of motor vehicle, drive whilst being disqualified, driving in a manner dangerous, and affixing false plates. He was remanded to appear at court at a later date. The 19-year-old, from Collingwood, was charged with theft of motor vehicle, and possessing a drug of dependence. He was bailed to appear at court at a later date.
Across the four nights police intercepted more than 80 vehicles, conducted 55 breath tests and recovered four stolen cars.
Their focus was detecting dangerous drivers and removing them from the roads.
Local uniform police, detectives and Highway Patrol officers from the Hume area were supported by the Dog Squad and Air Wing in saturating the area.
Operation Nighthawk ran from 12 to 16 October and will continue to run sporadically across the northern suburbs.
Quotes attributable to Acting Senior Sergeant Mick Kon, Broadmeadows Police Station:
"The behaviour we've seen on our roads is nothing short of reckless.
"Not only are they risking their own lives but those of innocent road users.
"People who think they can get away with these stunts after dark should know that's when police are just gearing up.
"If you're hooning, speeding or getting around in a stolen car there's no escape.
"There is no outrunning the Air Wing."
