Jye Smith, 29, charged over low-speed pursuit through Newcastle

A resident has caught the mass of red and blue lights from 10 police vehicles lighting up sections of suburban Newcastle during a chase which travelled at a snail’s pace in sections. Watch the video here.

The only things possibly missing were the dark sunglasses and the 1974 Dodge Monaco as the red and blue lights from nine police cars and a police motorcycle meandered their way along a series of suburban streets chasing an unregistered red Ford Focus.

It is just after midnight on Friday and the wet roads of Newcastle have turned into scenes reminiscent of the cult movie Blues Brothers – although this time there is nothing comedic about it.

This time, the unlicensed driver is 29-year-old Jye Smith, who has initiated the pursuit after failing to pull his unregistered Ford Focus over on Donald St at Hamilton when ordered to by police.

Checks reveal the car’s expired registration and the chase begins.

It continues along the Pacific Highway and through Merewether before more police cars join in.

Jye Smith, 29, was arrested after taking nine police cars and a motorcycle on a slow-speed pursuit through parts of Newcastle on February 16, 2024. Picture: Ivan Spyrdz.

And when the Focus, with headlights switched off, hits the peak of City Rd at Adamstown Heights between Brunker Rd and Northcott Dr, there are nine police cars and a police motorcycle flaring sirens and lights after joining the pursuit.

The chase is caught on camera by a resident, showing it as more of a crawl than a high-speed pursuit, before the Focus turns right into Northcott Dr.

It collides with a street sign a short time later before Smith is arrested on Northcott Dr and taken away for questioning.

The Lake Macquarie man is later charged with licensed driving, police pursuit – not stop – drive dangerously and use an unregistered car.

Smith faced Newcastle Local Court on Friday where he pleaded guilty to all charges and was refused bail to reappear for sentence in April.