A driver who allegedly rammed a police vehicle before a firearm and drugs were located in his car was one of more than a dozen people arrested during a recent nightly operation in Werribee.
Officers were patrolling the Tarneit area as part of Operation Shows when they came across three vehicles in a carpark about 10.50pm on Friday 31 October.
As police approached one of the vehicles, the driver allegedly reversed into the police car and took off, narrowly missing an officer.
Air Wing followed the vehicle and observed a passenger allegedly jump out on Inverell Parkway while the car was travelling at speed. Police arrested a 28-year-old man shortly after.
The vehicle continued on to Kalorama Street where the driver allegedly pulled over and attempted to hide behind a property fence.
With Air Wing assistance, police on ground were guided to the man's location and arrested him without incident.
A subsequent search of the vehicle located a firearm, ammunition, more than $54,000 in cash, as well as quantities of cocaine and MDMA.
The man, aged 21 from Essendon, was charged with aggravated intentional exposure of police officer to risk by driving, intentional exposure of police officer to risk by driving, reckless conduct endangering serious injury, possessing a general category handgun, possessing ammunition without licence, trafficking cocaine, trafficking ecstasy and driving whilst disqualified.
He was remanded to appear before Melbourne Magistrates' Court on 27 January 2026.
A further 13 people were arrested during the two-night operation including:
- Three men who were caught in an allegedly stolen utility in Wyndham Vale about 11.50pm on Thursday 30 October. Officers attempted to intercept the vehicle, which was also bearing stolen plates, on Ballan Road but the driver allegedly failed to stop. Air Wing followed and observed the utility enter a paddock area off McGraths Road and become bogged. Three men allegedly fled on foot but were arrested shortly after with assistance from the Dog Squad. The driver, aged 30 from Sunshine West, was charged with theft of motor vehicle, theft, driving while disqualified and fail to stop on police direction.
- Three men who were travelling in speeding vehicle in Tarneit just after midnight on Friday 31 October. Police on the ground attempted to intercept the car on Tarneit Road after observing it reach alleged speeds of 105km/h in a 70km/h zone. The driver allegedly failed to stop for police and continued on to Leakes Road where the Air Wing observed it reach alleged speeds of 150km/h. The helicopter tracked the car to the Western Ring Road where the car stopped and three occupants allegedly fled on foot. Police on the ground arrested the trio after a short foot chase. The alleged driver, aged 24 from Corio, had his vehicle impounded and will be charged on summons with failing to stop on police direction, driving in a manner dangerous, speeding and failing to stop at a red light.
During the operation police intercepted more than 140 vehicles, conducted 57 breath tests, impounded nine vehicles and recovered four that were stolen.
11 drivers were issued with penalty notices for traffic offences such as driving while unregistered, driving with false plates and speeding.
Operation Shows sees local police team up with specialist units including the Air Wing and Dog Squad to target high harm offending including aggravated burglaries, car thefts and dangerous driving.
The operation will continue to run regularly in the Wyndham area.
Quotes attributable to Wyndham Crime Investigation Unit Detective Senior Sergeant Matt Lewis:
"People driving around in stolen cars without a licence and at speed are not only a danger to our roads but they're also likely to go on and commit further crimes that night.
"That's why operations like Shows are so important - and effective - because we can safely stop these offenders in their tracks.
"These arrests show that while you might not always see us, we are always there."
