Driver allegedly tried to hit police twice before 100km chase across the Northern Rivers

“That’s not cannabis”: A man allegedly led police on a high speed pursuit across the Northern Rivers after being questioned at a popular lookout.

NSW police arrested a man who travelled more than 100km away after allegedly narrowly missing police twice with his car during questioning.

A man has been charged after a bizarre incident, which saw him allegedly trying to run over a policeman before leading them on a 100km pursuit across the Northern Rivers.

About 15.29pm on July 29, police allege they saw a 22-year-old male illegally dumping a large quantity of rubbish in the Razorback Lookout car park at Tweed Heads.

Police approached the accused and as they did, the man allegedly ran to his vehicle, a

red/maroon Ford Falcon wagon, and climbed over the passenger seat to the driver’s seat and locked all the doors to the vehicle.

Police allege they smelt cannabis near the car, but when attempting to question the man, he yelled out ”that’s not cannabis”.

The man then gestured towards a Senior Constable who was standing behind the vehicle conducting checks on the registration, and allegedly made threats to kill him.

Police allege he then started the vehicle, rapidly put it into reverse, and steered directly at the officer who was forced to take evasive action in order to avoid being run over by the vehicle.

The vehicle then conducted a U-turn and appeared to be driving out of the car park.

When police re-entered their vehicle, the accused allegedly conducted another U-turn,

driving his vehicle directly at them.

The accused then stopped his vehicle beside the police, and allegedly abused them through the window before driving out of the car park onto Razorback Rd, Tweed Heads.

At this point, police initiated a pursuit, with the vehicle driving approximately 10 kilometres per hour down Razorback Rd and onto Charles St, Tweed Heads.

Police allege the vehicle crossed to the incorrect side of the road and went the incorrect way around the roundabout, turning right onto Florence St. The vehicle increased its speed with police estimating it to be well in excess of the sign posted 50 km/h speed limit, overtaking a vehicle on Florence St.

It’s alleged the driver then reached the intersection of Florence and Wharf St where he slowed, crossed to the incorrect side of the road and turned right, travelling south in the northbound lanes. At this point the pursuit was terminated by police.

The vehicle then allegedly attempted to turn right on Brett St, however at the same time a fully marked police vehicle was exiting the street. The vehicle then continued south in the northbound lanes until it reached the intersection of Boyd St and Wharf St. Where it got back onto the correct side of the road, taking the Kennedy Drive exit.

The pursuit was re initiated with a fully marked Highway Patrol Vehicle as the primary vehicle.

The vehicle continued west on Kennedy Drive, Tweed Heads West before taking the

southbound exit onto the Pacific Motor Way Tweed Heads. A further highway vehicle

took up secondary position as the vehicle continued south on the Pacific Motor Way.

The vehicle continued south on the Pacific Motor Way allegedly ranging in speed from 110 to

180 km/h in the sign posted 110 km/h zone.

As police approached the Cudgera Creek Exit off the motor way, the vehicle slowed

behind a vehicle in lane two which was overtaking a vehicle in lane one. Police said as a result of the danger to the public the pursuit was terminated.

The vehicle then travelled towards Ballina where it entered the Liberty Service Station.

The male exited the vehicle when he was approached by the Liberty Petrol attendant and the accused requested $50 of premium fuel. The female Service Station attendant began pumping the fuel and the accused re-entered the driver’s seat of the vehicle. As the attendant finished filling up the vehicle, she opened the passenger’s side door of the vehicle to request payment. The accused allegedly accelerated harshly, while the attendant was holding on to the vehicle, however, was fortunate enough to be able to avoid being struck by the vehicle.

The vehicle allegedly continued onto River St, Ballina at high speed.

The 22-year-old male was arrested on the July 30 in Lismore after a further pursuit with police.

He was bail refused and will appear in Tweed Heads Local Court on August 9.