Court appearance for couple who led police on dramatic chase

THE man, who had a pregnant woman and two children in the car with him, allegedly rammed a police vehicle and threatened to kill officers.

POLICE PURSUIT: Three police vehicles were damaged during a dramatic pursuit which saw a man and a pregnant woman face Lismore Local Court. Picture: Supplied

UPDATE 4.45pm: A MAN and woman have faced court charged with a host of offences following a pursuit in which police allege they were assaulted and their vehicles were rammed.

Billy Michael Armitage, 25, appeared dressed in prison greens in the dock of Lismore Local Court on Friday afternoon.

His defence made no application for bail, and it was formally refused by Magistrate Michael Dakin.

Mr Armitage was charged with 28 offences, including seven counts of assaulting police, two outstanding warrants, receiving stolen property, three counts of police pursuit, three counts of driving in a manner dangerous, three counts of failing to comply with a request to stop, using a carriage service to threaten to kill, two counts of threatening injury to a person with intent to prevent lawful detention, two counts of using an offensive weapon to prevent lawful detention, resisting arrest and three counts of destroying or damaging property.

Police will allege they attempted to stop a Ford Ranger on River St, Ballina about 10.45pm on Thursday.

Mr Armitage allegedly failed to stop and a pursuit began.

This allegedly continued through the streets of Ballina and onto the Pacific Highway.

The pursuit was terminated after about 10 minutes and Mr Armitage allegedly made threats to police via calls to Triple 0.

The car was seen west of Lismore about 12.25am on Friday, but no pursuit was initiated.

When it was seen again on Summerland Way, travelling toward Casino, at 1.05am and police tried to stop the vehicle, but another pursuit began.

Police will allege Mr Armitage stopped and reversed into a highway patrol vehicle about five minutes later.

He then allegedly accelerated and rammed another police vehicle, which was pushed back several metres, narrowly missing an officer who was trying to lay road spikes.

Police have charged his passenger, 29-year-old Amanda Jane Parker, with aid and abet police pursuit, receiving stolen property and wilfully obstructing an officer in the execution of their duty.

She had entered pleas of not guilty for all three charges and was granted conditional bail.

Mr Armitage has pleaded not guilty to separate charges of aggravated break and enter with intent, using an offensive weapon to prevent lawful detention and larceny.

He will face Armidale Local Court on November 9 on the larceny charge, which relates to an alleged offence last year, and Kempsey Local Court on December 7 on the other charges, which date back to 2014.

On the recent charges, for which he has entered no plea, Mr Armitage is due to face Ballina Local Court via video link on Thursday, October 18.

Original story: A MAN and a pregnant woman will face Lismore Local Court today after a dramatic pursuit during which three police cars were damaged.

According to police, the 25-year-old Queensland man stole a car some time between September 12 and 30 and then yesterday made threats to kill police.

About 10.45pm last night, police saw the stolen car in Ballina.

Richmond Police District crime prevention officer, Senior Constable David Henderson, said the car failed to stop and a police pursuit commenced.

"The vehicle drove at speeds over 100km/h in a 50km/h zone," he said.

"The 25 year has then phoned Triple-0, saying he had guns and if police continued to chase him, 'it'll be the last thing they do'.

"Police lost the vehicle but located it again on Bentley Rd near Lismore.

"The vehicle was followed; the 25-year-old pulled up next to police in Bentley Rd and told a Chief Inspector that he was armed and just wanted to drop his kids off.

"Another pursuit commenced near Casino where the 25-year-old drove on the incorrect side of the road to avoid road spikes, driving directly at police officers."

The pursuit started again at 1.10am this morning at Fairy Hill.

The man stopped at some road spikes and allegedly rammed a police car - police said he had a pregnant woman and two young children in the car.

Police were able to subdue the man with OC spray.

"As a result of this incident three police cars suffered significant damage," Snr Const Henderson said.

"No police were seriously injured, and all displayed great bravery while pursuing and arresting the 25-year-old."

The man was charged with numerous offences, including receiving stolen property, dangerous driving, failure to stop, using a carriage service to threaten to kill, using offensive weapons, resisting police, destroying property and assaulting police.

Outstanding warrants from 2015 were also executed.

The female passenger, a 29-year-old Queensland woman, was charged with aiding and abetting a police pursuit, obstructing police and receiving stolen property.

Both were bail refused and will appear in Lismore Local Court today.