Mirani man charged with arson, assaults after rampage through Sarina, Rosella, Bakers Creek

Police allege the Qld man, 44, set fire to a unit complex before going on a rampage with an axe, assaulting people, breaking into stores and driving into a pedestrian. SEE THE VIDEO.

A man has been taken into custody after a rampage with an axe through a regional Queensland town, running rampant after starting a fire at an apartment complex, police allege.

The Mirani man, 44, allegedly committed the crime spree across Sarina starting with a fire at a Railway Square unit complex.

Police will allege the man then threatened multiple people with an axe at a nearby hotel, before using the weapon to assault a man, and break into a grocery store and liquor store.

Police claim the man fled the scene in a Nissan Novara ute, before assaulting a man while attempting to take a second vehicle from a Bruce Highway property in Chelona.

Paramedics assisted with a reported house fire on Station Lane in Sarina at 7.01pm on October 18. Photo taken 10am on October 19, where a crime scene has been declared by police. Picture: Fergus Gregg

Around 8pm, the Novara allegedly crashed into a house along Homebush Rd, Rosella, before the driver struck a pedestrian and attempted to flee the scene on foot.

The dog squad was used to take the man into police custody just after 8pm at Bakers Creek.

The Mirani man has been charged with arson, going armed so as to cause fear, trespassing, dangerous operation of a vehicle and unlawful use of a motor vehicle, and four counts of both wilful damage and assault occasioning bodily harm.

He has been remanded in custody and is expected to appear at Mackay Magistrates Court on Monday, October 21.

Nextra Freechoice Sarina was closed on Saturday October 19, after the shop front was damaged in an alleged axe rampage the previous night. Picture: Fergus Gregg

St Anne’s Catholic School teacher and Sarina resident Siobhan Rice was caught in a lockdown while eating dinner at the Sarina Sporting and Services Club, and saw people run inside the club.

She said staff locked the front and back doors, while the Friday night patrons hunkered down for almost two hours.

Staff continued as if it was “business as usual”.

“They still had their raffles... and made sure the doors were locked and nobody could come in or out,” Ms Rice said.

Tandara Hotel, Sarina

Ms Rice said the police were concentrated around the nearby Tandara Hotel, where Ms Rice believes “a majority of the action went down”.

“It’s definitely shocking because Sarina is very small,” she said.

“I know that within my school personally there’s a lot of families struggling already.

“To have this affect so many businesses and homes, it puts you a bit on edge.”

Despite missing glass, Sarina Nail and Spa was open on Saturday October 19, after an alleged axe rampage through the town the previous night. Picture: Fergus Gregg

At least Sarina businesses were seemingly damaged on Friday night: Nextra Free Choice Tobacconist, Sarina Nail and Spa and BWS.

On Saturday morning, both Nextra and BWS were closed, with Nextra’s doors boarded up.

One window at the tobacconist was shattered and the other severely damaged.

Nextra’s owners posted to Facebook that it is “all going well” and they hope to reopen on Monday.

BWS workers were seen cleaning the store and promising customers they’ll open later in the day while Sarina Nail and Spa is open and trading.

Detectives from Sarina Criminal Investigation Branch are urging any witnesses or persons with relevant vision from last night’s events to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

Investigations are ongoing.

Originally published as Mirani man charged with arson, assaults after rampage through Sarina, Rosella, Bakers Creek