Car thief charged after ramming vehicles and aiming at police during incident near a school in Gosford
A man has been charged after ramming cars and trying to drive into police, leaving a woman and her two children terrified as they scrambled to safety.
Children from a local school, who had just left for the day, were in the firing line as the driver aimed his vehicle at police and members of the public trying to stop the carnage.
The driver then rammed the woman’s vehicle before smashing into a brick wall and being wrestled out of the car.
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By continuing you agree to our Terms and Privacy Policy.At about 3:15pm on Tuesday, police were patrolling Benham Ave, Wyoming on the NSW central coast when they located a silver Mitsubishi Outlander that had been reported stolen from White Street, East Gosford, earlier that day.
When the vehicle failed to stop as directed a pursuit was initiated, however, it was terminated for safety reasons.
A short time later police attached to Brisbane water police district again attempted to stop the vehicle before reengaging in a pursuit.
The vehicle drove into Mann Street, Gosford, where it crashed into several vehicles including two police cars.
Following those collisions the car drove directly at two officers on foot causing them to draw their weapons and jump out of the way before the impact with the brick wall.
After impacting the wall the driver – a 22-year-old man – ran from the vehicle but was arrested at the scene by officers where he allegedly attempted to resist arrest that resulted in a senior constable suffering minor injuries.
The woman and two young children in the vehicle that was rammed were treated by NSW Ambulance paramedics for minor injuries.
The 22-year-old man was taken to Gosford Police Station and also treated for minor injuries by paramedics.
Inquiries established that he was the holder of a suspended learner driver’s licence and was also allegedly breaching bail conditions from an unrelated matter.
He was charged with seven offences including:
- Steal motor vehicle
- Take and drive conveyance without consent of the owner
- Drive motor vehicle while licence suspended
- Police pursuit – not stop – drive dangerously
- Use the etc offensive weapons to prevent lawful detention
- Hinder or resist police officer in the execution of duty
- Breach of bail
The Gosford man has been refused bail to appear at Gosford Local Court on Wednesday.
Crime Stoppers: 1800 333 000.
