Police and innocent motorists shot at by armed carjackers at Tweed Heads after dramatic car chase through Gold Coast
TWO men who allegedly shot at police and innocent motorists during a 150km high-speed chase on the M1 have faced court charged with ‘intending to murder’.
Crime and Court
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TWO men who allegedly shot at police and innocent motorists during a 150km high-speed chase on the M1 yesterday have faced court charged with a string of offences including ‘shoot with intent to murder’.
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John Tough, 32, and Calin McCabe, 20, faced Tweed Heads Local Court today charged with shoot with intent to murder, aggregated assault with intent to take/drive motor vehicle armed with weapon, discharge weapon with intent to cause grievous bodily harm, discharge firearm with intent to resist arrest and police pursuit non-stop drive at police.
Both men were refused bail to reappear in Lismore Court on April 7, via video link if necessary.
Police vehicles and innocent motorists were shot at by two armed thieves who carjacked three vehicles and embarked on a dangerous 150km dash for freedom across the Gold Coast, before being arrested in Tweed Heads.
The dramatic four-hour fiasco saw the men allegedly steal the vehicles at gunpoint and ram a police officer, sparking the police pursuit yesterday around 10.30am from Caboolture, through Brisbane, down to the Gold Coast and across the NSW border.
NSW police were waiting at the border where stingers were used to bring the vehicle to a screeching halt on the M1 at Tweed Heads at about 2.20pm (QLD time).
Two men were arrested, one of them a heavily tattooed, shirtless man who was wrestled to the ground.
Police allege when the car stopped, one of the occupants got out armed with handgun and fired a shot at a police officer. He then allegedly fired several shots at a passing car.
The 32-year-old man was then struck by a car which knocked the firearm from his hand, enabling an officer to arrest him.
A Queensland police helicopter tracked the men in a blue Mitsubishi Lancer as they sped down the Pacific Mwy, veering into oncoming lanes, crossing the median strip and zigzagging through traffic at speeds up to 160km/h.
Police say several shots were fired at officers and other vehicles by the offenders just south of the Tugun bypass, but incredibly no one was wounded.
Bullet holes could be seen on a gold 4WD that was travelling northbound, towing a trailer. One witness said a spent bullet landed on the passenger seat.
A dent from a stray bullet could also be seen on the M1 northbound barrier.
Two other cars were struck by the stolen vehicle and two cars travelling north also collided as they braked for safety. Paramedics treated the motorists at the scene.
Tweed Byron Local Area Command Superintendent Stuart Wilkins said the incident came close to being a dark day for NSW police.
“It could have been one of the most tragic days we have had as police officers but due to the bravery and exceptional skill of the officers included it ended safely,” he said.
“It’s simply not good enough ... these people put police lives at risk and the community at significant risk.”
Supt Wilkins said the two officers fired at during yesterday’s pursuit were today back on duty and would be nominated for bravery awards.
“All of the officers involved yesterday that were rostered in today have got their firearms on and they gun belts and they are out protecting the community,” he said.
“It is an emotional circumstance (but) I’ve spoken to all of the officers involved and they are very upbeat this morning.
“It’s a great example of how policing is a dangerous job that takes courage to do everyday and police show bravery on a daily basis.”
Witnesses said they saw the car fly past them at Tugun and feared for their lives.
The offenders’ stolen car and the gold 4WD were both being inspected by forensic officers at the crime scene.
Police seized a loaded handgun, with an officer pointing the cocked weapon towards the median strip to ensure it wouldn’t fire, before bagging it for forensics.
The men are said to have begun their crime spree in Caboolture yesterday morning when they were pulled over by police in a stolen car.
Police say they fled, striking an officer’s leg with their vehicle.
The men then stole two more vehicles at gunpoint.
Police confirmed the second vehicle, a 4WD, had a woman and a young child inside with the gunmen reportedly demanding the woman remove the child before they drove off.
The offenders are believed to have ditched the 4WD after realising it was low on fuel and stole a third car, the Lancer, then began their high-speed journey south.
Superintendent Michael Brady said that before the chase began police had been looking for one of the offenders with a warrant out for his arrest.
“The vehicle was followed by PolAir and clearly the vision shows the speed which they were doing was well in excess of the speed limit,” he said.
Superintendent Brady said the use of the police helicopter to monitor the men had been vital to ensuring public safety during the incident.
Only one southbound lane remained open, with the northbound lanes of the motorway at Tweed Heads blocked during peak hour traffic yesterday afternoon.
Police said the men would be extradited to Queensland.
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