Matthew Peter Taylor in Coffs Harbour court after arrest at Beacon Hill
Charges related to the dramatic arrest at Beacon Hill earlier this month.
Coffs Harbour
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The Coffs Harbour man who allegedly led police on a number of high speed pursuits in stolen cars that were later torched in bushland, faced Local Court on Monday.
He pleaded not guilty to the offences and will appear before court again on April 26. He has been remanded in custody.
Matthew Peter Taylor was facing a string of charges in relation to the dramatic arrest which unfolded on the headland near the Marine Rescue Building on March 8.
Black smoke could be seen across Coffs Harbour from the torched car and the NSW Fire and Rescue were called in to extinguish the blaze.
The 36-year-old was the subject of a large police response including officers from Coffs/Clarence Police District, the Dog Unit and Traffic and Highway Patrol Command.
Police allege that on the Friday before the Beacon Hill arrest, a Holden Rodeo was stolen from a home at Stuarts Point.
Two days later officers noticed the stolen vehicle near Moonee Beach, and engaged in a short pursuit, however, it was terminated due to safety concerns.
About 11pm the same day, the Holden was found burnout on East Bank Road, Coramba.
As officers responded to reports of the vehicle fire, a Nissan X-Trail was allegedly stolen in the same street.
About 1.30am on Monday (March 8) police were patrolling when they noticed the X-Trail in the carpark of a supermarket in Woolgoolga.
Officers commenced a pursuit; however, it was again terminated due to safety concerns.
Later in the day, about 2pm, police engaged in another pursuit with the Nissan X-Trail on the Pacific Highway at Coffs Harbour. It was terminated, and a short time later, the vehicle was found on fire in bushland near the Marine Rescue Building on Beacon Hill.
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