Police Union calls for courts to act after officer suffered serious injuries in alleged ramming incident

The head of the Queensland Police Union has called on the courts to act with their full authority after two officers were allegedly run down by a man in a stolen truck.

The head of the Queensland Police Union has called on the courts to act after a 45-year-old Oakey man allegedly ran down two officers while behind the wheel of a stolen truck.

Both of the officers were hospitalised, with one suffering multiple broken bones and internal bleeding.

“(The) incident shows the callous disregard criminals have for life. We could have had multiple police killed or critically injured this afternoon,” Ian Leavers said.

“The police involved luckily had fast thinking colleagues providing them with immediate first aid and assistance until medical teams arrived. Their training and skills are part of the reason we do not have a tragic situation.”

Four police officers have been injured, one seriously, after they were struck by a stolen Hino Series 300 truck north of Toowoomba. May 25, 2023.

Police were tracking a Hino 300 Series truck through the Darling Downs after it was stolen from an Oakey business about 4am on Wednesday.

The vehicle was sighted in Meringandan West after it almost collided with several Toowoomba Regional Council Road workers near the intersection of Peters Road and Thomas Street.

Shortly after this two officers from the Toowoomba Property Crime Squad located the truck parked across from the Meringandan Produce store on Goombungee-Meringandan Road about 1.30pm.

One of the officers suffered multiple broken bones and was flown to the Princess Alexandra Hospital.

They exited their vehicles and attempted to pull the 45-year-old man from the truck when he allegedly accelerated and ran down both officers, before ramming their vehicle.

A 54-year-old male Detective senior constable was flown to Brisbane’s Princess Alexandra Hospital for treatment to serious injuries and is listed as stable while a 56-year-old male Detective senior constable was taken to Saint Vincent’s Hospital for treatment to serious injuries and is listed as stable.

Toowoomba South MP David Janetzki wants more support for our police.

Police Union President Ian Leavers called on the court to act.

The 45-year-old man was arrested at the Goombungee rubbish dump.

He is charged with two counts each of attempted murder and unlawful use of a motor vehicle and one count each of endangering the safety of a person in a vehicle with intent, dangerous operation of a motor vehicle, break and enter, wilful damage, evade police and possess dangerous drugs.

“The Queensland Police Union is providing assistance to the injured officers and their families,” Mr Leavers said.

“I hope the offenders involved are dealt with appropriately by the courts. We will be urging for the maximum penalties to be applied because it is in line with community expectation.”

Toowoomba South MP David Janetzki addressed the matter in the Queensland parliament on Wednesday afternoon and said the government needed to act.

\\Police Minister Mark Ryan said the injured officers are recovering in hospital.

“This week we have had two significant ramraiding incidents,” he said.

“Once upon a time offenders used to flee the police; now they are running at them.

There has never been a more dangerous time for a police officer to serve and protect their community than right now in Queensland.

“So love and strength to the four officers who were injured today along with the three police cars that were damaged and the property damage that has been ongoing.

“We will not stop fighting for stronger laws and better resourcing for the police and early intervention that works.

“We will not stop fighting for these things until everyone in the suburbs feels safe, until everyone in their streets feels safe and until everyone in their homes feels safe.”

Police Minister Mark Ryan said the officers injured in Toowoomba on Wednesday were in a stable condition. He said the “very brave officers” were acting in the interest of community safety.

The owners of the stolen truck, Daniel and Natasha Renyard, from TyreRight Oakey thanked the officers for their sacrifice.

“We would like to thank everyone involved in helping us locate our work vehicles today,” Ms Renyard.

“We appreciated every phone call, love and support from customers, friends and family.

“Everyone played a part with their piece of the puzzle that we put together to locate these alleged offenders.”

“I would also like to thank the police for everything they have done today, it is proven today that these wonderful people put their lives on the line to keep our community safe.

“Our thoughts and prayers are with the families of the officers hurt today protecting our community.”

Originally published as Police Union calls for courts to act after officer suffered serious injuries in alleged ramming incident