Alex McDonald: QLD man in court over alleged police pursuit through Port Macquarie

A Queensland man will remain in custody after allegedly leading police on a wild pursuit through Port Macquarie in the early hours of Sunday morning.

The man at the centre of an alleged police pursuit through Port Macquarie in the early hours of Sunday morning has been refused bail.

Andrew Daniel McDonald, 26, instructed his lawyer, David Lakin, to plead not guilty to eight charges stemming from the alleged late-night pursuit which ended in his arrest at Settlement Pt Rd, Port Macquarie, on Sunday morning.

Police were patrolling Buller St just after 1am when they allegedly sighted a car with Queensland plates driving at 80km/h in a 50km/h zone before running a red light on Park St.

Police allegedly had to jump out of the way of a reversing ute on the Mid-North Coast.

Highway Patrol officers allegedly tried to pull the Toyota Hilux over but it continued along Settlement Point Rd before turning into a vacant block of land.

As police gave chase, a female passenger left the vehicle before she was allegedly struck by the ute. She was uninjured.

Police allege McDonald attempted to accelerate away when it became bogged in the soil, with officers urging the driver to step out of his vehicle.

He then freed the ute from the bog before allegedly reversing into the path of two police officers, causing them to jump, before becoming bogged a second time.

Police smashed the window and tried to remove Mr McDonald, when he allegedly resisted by holding onto the steering wheel and trying to accelerate.

Port Macquarie Court House

Officers used a taser to remove him before he was arrested.

He was charged with police pursuit – not stop – drive dangerously, use offensive weapon to prevent lawful detention, resist or hinder police officer in the execution of duty, drive motor vehicle during disqualification period, driver state false name or home address and three receive property stolen outside NSW.

In court on Monday, Mr Lakin said his client indicated that he would plead not guilty to each charge, but warned the court McDonald’s mind was not in a state to confirm a plea so soon after the incident.

“In relation to the matters, he is pleading not guilty to all matters in his present state of mind,“ Mr Lakin said, before clarifying that “certain aspects of his character and personality may modify that”.

Given the circumstances, Magistrate Georgina Darcy did not record a plea, but adjourned the matter to next Wednesday. She refused Mr McDonald’s release application based on his prior criminal history, allegations of previous police pursuits and risk of re-offending.

Settlement Pt Rd, Port Macquarie, where Mr McDonald was arrested

“Police allege he was the driver of a motor vehicle at Brunswick Heads which was involved in a [separate] pursuit,” Ms Darcy said.

“Police spoke to his father [the vehicle owner] who nominated Mr McDonald being the driver … There is also a break and enter from 25 December, with DNA located at the point of entry, and there’s the matters from early yesterday morning where Mr McDonald was allegedly involved in another high-speed police pursuit.

“There is also an allegation of a female person who got out and ran into bushland and that he attempted to accelerate when police tried to retrieve him from the vehicle.

“He is currently subject to bail conditions from Southport Court from 28 April this year … and is also subject to a number of bonds in this jurisdiction.”

Ms Darcy said that there was an ‘obvious unacceptable risk’ that if released from custody he could commit a serious offence and for this reason, “bail must be refused,” she said.

Mr McDonald is expected to formally enter pleas at Port Macquarie Court on May 19.