DONNYBROOK, VIC. — Banyule-Nillumbik Crime Investigation Unit (CIU) detectives charged a 26-year-old Donnybrook man following a carjacking in Donnybrook after police were made aware of the incident on Eucalyptus Parade via a call to Triple Zero (000) from one of the victims at about 12.20am today.
Officers understand that a woman was with her partner and young child when they pulled over to the side of the road looking for a rest stop, when a man approached the vehicle from behind a shrub.
He allegedly got into the passenger side of the car and told the victim to drive.
A short time later, the trio were dropped off by the offender outside the Northern Hospital, extremely shaken but not physically injured.
Members on patrol as part of Operation Phoenix spotted the white Toyota Yaris and initiated a pursuit.
With assistance from the Air Wing, the vehicle was pursued by members on the ground along the Hume Highway, Western Ring Road, Sydney Road and through the northern suburbs of Epping, Thomastown and Campbellfield.
The 26-year-old Donnybrook man was arrested shortly after when he drove into a service station on Centre Road in Tullamarine and surrendered peacefully to police and taken to hospital under police guard.
He has since been charged with kidnapping (common law), carjacking, dangerous driving whilst pursued by police, failing to stop on police direction and being a learner driver without an approved supervising driver.
He appeared before a bail and remand court this afternoon.
The outcome of the court appearance is unknown.
