NewsBite

Updated

Bartholomew Ara, Kaluim Hegarty, Francis Solomon charged after 150km police chase ends in car explosion

A wanted trio in their 20s, allegedly armed with a machete, has been charged and faced court after a 150km police pursuit from Brisbane to the Sunshine Coast in an allegedly stolen car ended in an explosion. SEE THE VIDEO

Alleged car chase from Brisbane to the Sunshine Coast

A wanted trio in their 20s, allegedly armed with a machete, has been charged after a 150km police pursuit which started in Brisbane and ended on the Sunshine Coast.

Bartholomew Ara of Park Avenue in Rockhampton, 23, was charged with property offences including enter premises and commit, unlawful use of a motor vehicle, dangerous operation of a vehicle and arson

Kaluim Charles Hegarty of Wulguru in Townsville, 24, was charged with property offences including enter premises and commit and one count each of unlawful use of a motor vehicle and arson.

Francis Solomon of Heatley in Townsville, 22, was charged with property offences two counts of stealing and unlawful use of a motor vehicle, and one count of enter premises and commit.

The three offenders appeared in Maroochydore Magistrates Court on Wednesday and did not apply for bail.

Police said they first became aware of the allegedly stolen Nissan Patrol station wagon around 3.30pm on Tuesday, as it was travelling in the Upper Kedron area. The vehicle was tracked by Polair travelling north.

Sunshine Coast Senior Sergeant Matt Campbell said a member of the public informed police of the allegedly stolen car with three people inside

“One was allegedly armed with a machete,” he said.

“It came into the Sunshine Coast district probably around 4.30pm travelling at high speed.

“There was a little bit of difficulty for us operationally because there was heavy traffic on the Bruce Highway.”

PolAir allegedly tracked the three people from Brisbane to the Sunshine Coast. Picture: QPS
PolAir allegedly tracked the three people from Brisbane to the Sunshine Coast. Picture: QPS

Once past the traffic, police organised a tyre deflation strategy.

“We ended up successfully stinging the (allegedly) offending vehicle up at Cooroy,” he said.

“After an (alleged) offender escaped from the vehicle into bushland in Cooroy.

“The vehicle has continued on a little bit further into Federal where the driver and last remaining (alleged) offender took off into bush.”

Police chased them for about an hour on foot through the bushland.

They were arrested about 5.40pm.

The car was allegedly crashed which started a grass fire. Picture: QPS
The car was allegedly crashed which started a grass fire. Picture: QPS

After the vehicle stopped, it caught fire and caused a grass fire, which was had to be out by emergency crews.

A Queensland Fire Department spokeswoman said 11 crews were called to the fire about 5.30pm, because it was burning in “a couple of acres” of bush.

The fire burnt more than 1ha and at one stage a single property was under threat.

Police with one of the alleged offenders. Picture: QPS
Police with one of the alleged offenders. Picture: QPS

Ara and Hegarty had their matters adjourned to Brisbane Magistrates Court on December 16, due to their charges stemming from suburbs such as Jindalee, Acacia Ridge and Murarrie.

Solomon’s case was adjourned to Thursday, with her solicitor Rod Morgan telling the court Brisbane detectives were speaking to the 22-year-old in the watch-house investigating potential further offences.

Magistrate Rod Madsen asked Mr Morgan if he was aware of her “pseudonym” she had written on her bail undertaking.

“Another name [she] uses, ‘f--- you’, on [her] bail,” Mr Madsen said.

“It already sounds pretty complicated,” Mr Morgan said.

Sunshine Coast Police worked across the two locations to track down and arrest the alleged offenders.

“All three adult (alleged) offenders were wanted for numerous (alleged) offences,” Sergeant Campbell said.

“Most of which were (allegedly) committed down in the Brisbane area.”

Brisbane, Moreton Bay and Sunshine Coast police worked together across the three districts – with no one being hurt.

“Now we’ve got three prolific (alleged) offenders in custody,” Senior Sergeant Campbell said.

Original URL: https://www.couriermail.com.au/news/queensland/sunshine-coast/emergency-crews-rush-to-bruce-hwy-car-rollover-bushfire-at-federal/news-story/5e09d0010e418748ef17b83230c81066