By Angus Dalton
Police have charged a man with 20 offences after he allegedly embarked on a rampage on the Central Coast over the weekend that included carjacking, break-and-enter, stealing, kidnapping, ramming a police car and impersonating an officer.
The alleged crime spree began when the man allegedly robbed a Wyong business on Friday night about 10pm, police said, and fled with cash.
A police helicopter, the dog unit and the tactical operations unit were called in to arrest the man.Credit:
He was spotted hitting the M1 near Ourimbah in an allegedly stolen vehicle.
The dog unit, the tactical operations unit and a police helicopter swung into action to track down the man, who police allege engaged in a spate of robberies and break-and-enter.
Still on the run on Saturday, he allegedly stole another vehicle with a woman still inside. Police were told he let her off in Kangy Angy, a semi-rural suburb less than 10 minutes drive from Wyong, and took off again.
The man then allegedly rammed a police car giving chase at Ourimbah about 11am. About an hour later, police finally arrested him.
Police took him to Wyong Hospital under guard where he was treated for minor injuries.
On Sunday, the man, 54, was taken to Wyong Police Station and charged with 20 offences.
The charges included several counts of armed robbery and aggravated break and enter, and five counts of taking and driving a conveyance without the consent of the owner.
He was also charged with impersonating a police officer and using a weapon to prevent lawful detention.
The man, from Central Coast lakeside suburb of Tuggerawong, was refused bail and appeared in Newcastle Bail Court on Sunday.
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