Stolen Range Rover Sport sparks wild police pursuit through Rooty Hill and Doonside
The alleged driver and passengers charged with leading police on a wild chase in an alleged stolen luxury SUV through Sydney’s west have been identified, as one faces court. Watch the video.
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The alleged driver of a stolen Range Rover which crashed into a fence during a wild police chase in western Sydney has refused legal help, while one of his passengers was granted bail and another remains in hospital.
Kurtis Smiley, Hunter Finnigan and Maika Ufi are alleged to have led police on a chase through Bidwill in an allegedly stolen black Range Rover early on August 31.
At about 2am on Saturday, police patrolling in Bidwill spotted the SUV, allegedly stolen from a Rooty Hill property the day before, driving along Chestnut Crescent and launched a pursuit when the driver failed to stop.
Police chased the car through Sydney’s west before it crashed into a fence on Wilkie Crescent, Doonside.
Smiley, 19, was charged with being in possession of a stolen motor vehicle, while Finnigan, 20, was charged with police pursuit drive recklessly, drive a stolen motor vehicle and driving without a licence.
Ufi, 30, will be charged with being in possession of a stolen motor vehicle and an outstanding warrant will be executed.
A fourth co-accused, a 16-year-old boy, received a youth caution for being in possession of a stolen motor vehicle.
Smiley was the only one of the adult trio who faced Parramatta bail court in person on Saturday, August 31, as the court was told Finnigan was refusing legal help, refusing to apply for bail and unwilling to face the court. Ufi remains in hospital.
The court was told Finnigan was the alleged driver of the SUV while Smiley allegedly filmed the pursuit from inside the car.
He was cooperative with police and willingly handed over his phone with the footage, and was also one of the few people who did not flee the scene after the crash.
The court was told Smiley had never been in custody before and had a heart condition that required him to have monthly check ups.
Smiley was granted bail and will face Mount Druitt Local Court on September 4, along with Finnigan.
Several residents took to social media sharing videos and pictures of the wild early-morning chase.
Footage uploaded to Facebook show several highway patrol cars racing down the residential streets of Doonside followed by Polair.
Facebook user Mandy Michelle said the car “nearly went through someone’s house.”
“About 7 cars came flying down my street it was that fast the camera didn’t catch it. Sounded like something blew up in my street.”
“Geez crazy stuff not what I needed to wake up to,” Reanna Brooks posted to social media.
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