The alleged incidents took place on Saturday, 12 July. Photo: Julia Gomina.
A man’s been charged over a series of alleged incidents where an axe was thrown at police officers, a woman run over with her own car and a citizen’s arrest.
Police were called to Rayleigh Drive, Worrigee, shortly before 1 pm on Saturday (12 July) after reports a man was armed with an axe and a hammer.
When officers arrived, it’s alleged the man threw the axe at the police vehicle.
The alleged suspect retrieved the axe before running to a home on Illawarra Circuit, where he’s accused of assaulting a 66-year-old woman while she was sitting in her Ford Mustang.
Police will allege the man hit the woman multiple times with the axe before forcing her out of the car. She was then run over by her own vehicle as the man drove it away.
The woman was treated by NSW Ambulance paramedics for multiple leg and torso injuries before being taken to Shoalhaven Memorial Hospital in a serious but stable condition.
She’s since been transferred to St George Hospital for further treatment.
PolAir was called in to help police search for the vehicle and at about 2 pm it was spotted on the Princes Highway, heading south.
Police gave chase when the driver allegedly failed to stop when directed.
The pursuit continued through Nowra, Bomaderry, Berry, Gerringong, and Kiama, during which the sports car allegedly reached speeds of 180 km/h in an 80 km/h speed zone.
Road spikes were used to try to stop the driver; however he allegedly swerved the vehicle towards a highway patrol officer, narrowly missing him and the spikes.
The pursuit ended after the sports car was spotted on the opposite side of the Princes Highway at Kiama Downs, where it collided with a ute before coming to a stop.
The alleged driver, a 25-year-old man, is accused of trying to run from the scene, but members of the public held him until police arrived.
The man was arrested and taken to Wollongong Hospital under police guard.
The driver of the ute was also taken to Wollongong Hospital for assessment.
The 25-year-old man was released from hospital on Sunday (13 July) and was taken to Wollongong Police Station where he was charged with:
- Aggravated take/drive motor vehicle with person in/on it-armed with weapon
- Fail to stop and assist after vehicle impact causing grievous bodily harm
- Fail to stop and assist after impact cause injury
- Police pursuit – not stop – drive dangerously
- Class A motor vehicle exceed speed greater than 45 km/h
- Custody of a knife in public place
- Use etc offensive weapon to prevent lawful detention (two counts)
- Goods in personal custody suspected being stolen (not motor vehicle)
- Drive motor vehicle during disqualification period
- Larceny
He was also charged with three outstanding alleged offences being destroy or damage property (DV), assault occasioning actual bodily harm (DV) and larceny.
He was refused bail to appear in court today (14 July).
