Raphael Van Aalst: Driver high on meth and dope leads police on north shore chase
Hopped up on a cocktail of illegal drugs, including “meth”, a driver tried to outrun police, crashing his car in the process. See what happened in court.
Manly
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A Sydney driver, hopped up on a cocktail of meth and dope, unsuccessfully tried to “recklessly” out run police who wanted to pull him over for a random breath test.
Raphael Anatole Van Aalst, 43, was behind the wheel of a Subaru Forester on the lower north shore when officers signalled him to pull over.
But, according to documents tendered to Manly Local Court on Wednesday, Van Aalst refused to stop.
He was under the influence of methamphetamine and cannabis before his car collided with another vehicle at Northwood, near Lane Cove, according to court papers.
Van Aalst, of Bowral, has pleaded guilty to one count each of police pursuit (not stop) drive dangerously; fail to comply with signal to stop vehicle; not give particulars to other driver and; drive while under influence of drugs.
Police alleged, in the documents, that he was under the influence of methamphetamine and cannabis while driving along River Rd at about 12.15pm.
Van Aalst had failed to stop at Lane Cove for a breath test before the chase began.
Police stated in the papers that he refused to stop despite “knowing that police officers were in pursuit”.
“(He) then drove recklessly, at a speed dangerous and in a manner dangerous to others”.
The court also heard that four months later, on June 2, Van Aalst was stopped while driving a Volvo XC90, by police for a random breath test at midnight on Pittwater Rd at Mona Vale.
As a result of that stop he was charged with one count each of drive under the influence of methylamphetamine and drive while licence suspended.
His licence had been suspended as a result of the police pursuit charges in February.
Magistrate Robyn Denes adjourned the matter, for sentence, to Manly Local Court on February 1.
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