ALFREDTON, VIC. — Ballarat Crime Investigation Unit detectives have charged two people after police officers on patrol on Learmouth Street spotted a Jeep Cherokee with false plates. The police vehicle was then allegedly rammed just before 1.30am on Wednesday, September 23.
Officers approached the vehicle and parked directly behind the Jeep, which was stopped at a service station.
The driver, a 33-year-old Wendouree man, allegedly reversed the Jeep and collided with the police vehicle before fleeing northbound.
The officers inside the vehicle were not injured.
On Wednesday afternoon, officers arrested the 33-year-old man after following the vehicle in Golden Point.
With assistance from the Air Wing, police followed the Jeep through Snake Valley, Cardigan and Redan, before it eventually came to a stop on Curnow Street about 5pm.
Police will allege the Jeep was being driven erratically and at excessive speed..
A 33-year-old woman from Black Hill, who police will allege was a passenger in the Jeep during both incidents, was also arrested at the scene, and police will further allege the woman failed to stop at a red light and collided with another vehicle on Fussell Street in Ballarat East on September 16.
Police attempted to intercept the Jeep on this occasion but were unsuccessful.
The Jeep then fled the scene, and the other driver was not seriously injured.
The man has since been charged with several offences, including reckless exposure of police officers to risk by driving, driving dangerously, among other charges.
He remains in hospital under police guard.
The woman was also charged with several offences, including dangerous driving whilst pursued by police, reckless conduct endangering life and separate charges for possession of methamphetamine, cannabis, buprenorphine and possession of a prescription drug without a prescription, among other charges.
She was remanded to appear before Ballarat Magistrates’ Court yesterday.
