A man has been charged after allegedly stealing ice-cream and fuel, before crashing his vehicle and driving at police in Sydney's south yesterday.
Police will allege about 7.30am (Friday 12 August 2022), a man driving a Holden Captiva attended a petrol station in Erskineville, before failing to pay for petrol and driving from the scene.
Shortly before 9.40am, the same Holden was travelling along Botany Road, Waterloo, when it stopped behind a truck at traffic lights.
The driver left the vehicle and approached the truck, before slashing a pallet in the rear of the vehicle and taking a number of ice-cream containers.
The man returned to the Holden and continued along Botany Road, when the vehicle collided with a taxi and a power pole, causing the taxi to collide with a third vehicle and continue off the roadway before hitting a fence.
Officers attached to the Rescue and Bomb Disposal Unit were nearby and attended; however, on arrival the driver of the Holden allegedly accelerated at police before crashing into a second power pole, causing the line to fall.
Another unmarked police vehicle attended, and the driver was arrested after allegedly assaulting police. He was taken to Royal Prince Alfred hospital for assessment.
Police searched the vehicle and seized items including methamphetamine, a knife, and two tubs of ice-cream.
The 34-year-old man was later released from hospital and taken to Mascot Police Station, where he was charged with 16 offences including:
- dishonestly obtain property by deception,
- drive recklessly/furiously or speed/manner dangerous,
- negligent driving,
- use etc offensive weapon to prevent police investigation,
- assault officer in execution of duty,
- custody of knife in public place, and
- possess prohibited drug.
He was also charged with two unrelated offences.
The man was refused bail and will appear at Parramatta Bail Court today (Saturday 13 August 2022).
The officers involved suffered minor injuries including cuts and abrasions.
