Man at the centre of West Wollongong siege refused bail after alleged pursuit
A man at the centre of a siege situation at West Wollongong earlier this week has been refused bail over an alleged police pursuit on Wednesday evening.
An Illawarra man at the centre of a four hour long police siege at West Wollongong has been refused bail, after allegedly leading police on a pursuit.
Wollongong man Ratai More Raki William Ratai, 28, appeared in Wollongong Local Court on Thursday morning after he was arrested and charged over an alleged car chase at Warrawong overnight.
On Tuesday afternoon police tried to apprehend Ratai, who was wanted on domestic violence charges.
Police allege Ratai ran into a Thames St home, where he was the focus of a siege situation involving heavily armed officers from the tactical response unit.
Police burst into the home after four hours of negotiations, but Ratai was nowhere to be found, sparking a police manhunt.
According to police facts tendered to the court, Ratai was allegedly spotted driving a blue Subaru WRX along Windang Rd, Primbee, just before 8.30pm yesterday.
Police allegedly pulled in behind the WRX and activated all warning signs in an attempt to stop the vehicle, but Ratai refused to pull over and a pursuit was initiated.
Police facts alleged Ratai ran several red lights in the Warrawong area before police deployed road spikes in an attempt to stop him.
After running over the spikes, Ratai allegedly continued to drive a further 400 metres before exiting the vehicle with his hands in the air.
Police facts say Ratai was taken to the ground by police before he was arrested and subsequently charged at Lake Illawarra Police Station.
Ratai’s application for bail was refused by a registrar on Thursday morning, despite his defence lawyer Graeme Morrison arguing his client was on his way to the police station to hand himself in at the time of the alleged pursuit.
“He made it very clear on social media he was on his way to hand himself in,” Mr Morrison said.
“He knew police were after him and he says it was his determination to get to the police station.”
Police prosecutor Sergeant Seleena Gillmore argued against Ratai’s release, telling the court he was wanted over at least three alleged breaches of an AVO, one of which included “intentionally choking” the victim.
“We are asking for bail to be refused for the protection of the victim,” she said.
Due to the “serious nature” of the alleged offences, the registrar refused bail and the matter will return to court next week.
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