NSW Police arrest Queenslanders over alleged highway rampage

An innocent family driving on the M1 were subject to a terrifying ordeal yesterday when a replica gun was allegedly pointed at the driver, whose response confounded the would-be carjackers.

A DRIVER travelling on the M1 in northern NSW refused to stop for carjackers who allegedly pointed a replica pistol at him while his wife and child were in the vehicle.

Four Queenslanders, including a child, have been charged with a variety of offences after allegedly sparking a police pursuit through Ewingdale, Knockrow and Pimlico.

About 11.25am on Sunday, officers from Richmond Police District began pursuing a car which was stolen from Queensland, a police statement read.

A replica pistol was allegedly pointed at motorists on the M1.

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“The driver, a 25-year-old Bracken Ridge man pointed a (replica) pistol at police, which led to police terminating the pursuit,” police said.

“At 11:40am, the stolen vehicle swerved in front of another vehicle at Knockrow, causing it to stop.

“A passenger in the stolen vehicle pointed a pistol at the driver and tried to get him out, but this attempt failed. Police re-initiated the pursuit, but terminated soon after.”

Police allege a passenger then pointed the pistol at another driver travelling southbound on the highway near Ballina, “who had his wife and young child in his vehicle”.

“He was told to get out of his car but refused to do so and kept driving,” police said.

“The driver of the stolen vehicle kept driving while a passenger kept pointing the pistol at other drivers in an attempt to get them to stop.

“The stolen car hit a bollard causing a tyre to blow out at Pimlico, where a passenger pointed the pistol at a resident and demanded his car keys.

“He refused to hand over his keys and a fight started.”

Officers arrived and one person was immediately arrested while three others were found in nearby bushland by a police dog.

The pistol was recovered and found to be a replica, police said.

Police arrested four Queenslanders and charged them with a raft of serious offences.

The alleged driver, aged 25, from Bracken Ridge has been charged with four counts of armed

robbery in company, two counts of police pursuit, two counts of driving in a dangerous manner and one count of taking and driving conveyance.

An 18-year-old Bracken Ridge woman and an 18-year-old Slacks Creek woman have been charged with possessing an unauthorised pistol, carrying stolen conveyance and armed robbery in company.

A juvenile from Queensland was charged with armed robbery in company and carrying in conveyance.

The four Queenslanders were refused bail to appear at Lismore Local Court today.

Richmond Police District expected further charges would be laid by Queensland Police Service.