Luke Mckenzie in Coffs court after alleged Duke, Vernon St police chase
His mother waited in court hoping he would be granted bail in relation to the alleged chase, with police claiming the driver swerved onto the wrong side of the road in the Coffs CBD.
Coffs Harbour
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A man accused of leading police on a chase, which allegedly involved an unregistered car speeding on the wrong side of the road, appeared in Coffs Harbour Local Court on Tuesday, June 14.
Luke Alexander Mckenzie’s lawyer told the court it was only a short pursuit but the police prosecutor said this was because officers terminated it very quickly due to the dangerous conditions.
At one point the unregistered car the 24-year-old was allegedly driving, crossed onto the wrong side of the road and oncoming traffic had to take evasive action, the prosecutor told the court.
Police also allege he drove at 70km per hour in a 40km zone and on the wrong side of a concrete island when he turned into Vernon Street in the Coffs Harbour CBD.
According to police, highway patrol officers detected an unregistered vehicle travelling on the Pacific Highway just after 3pm on Friday.
They attempted to stop the car, but the driver allegedly kept going.
After the short chase was terminated due to safety concerns - the wanted vehicle, a Holden, was later found abandoned in Duke Street.
Officers, with the support of the Dog Unit, allege they found him hiding in nearby bushland.
Mckenzie was arrested and charged with: police pursuit - not stop - drive dangerously, second offence; and drive motor vehicle during disqualification period -second offence.
He appeared at Port Macquarie Local Court on Saturday and was formally refused bail to appear at Coffs Harbour Local Court on Tuesday.
His mother waited in court hoping Magistrate Ian Rodgers would grant her son bail to live at her Woolgoolga home but she would be disappointed when his matter came up in the afternoon, sadly shaking her head, when bail was refused.
The matter was adjourned to June 28 when he is expected to make a plea.
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