Geelong dealer Justin Mills leaves money, drugs in car and flees after hit-run crashes

A Geelong man’s money and drug stash were discovered by police after he rammed into two cars on the a busy road.

A Geelong dealer’s money and drug stash was found by police after he rammed into two cars on the Geelong Ring Rd, a court heard.

Justin Mills, 36, who has been tied to the Norlane and Corio areas, faced the Geelong Magistrates Court from a remand centre on Wednesday and pleaded guilty to handling stolen goods, possessing a weapon and possessing a drug of dependence with the purpose of trafficking.

In October 2021, Mills was driving “erratically” on the Geelong Ring Rd when he collided into the back of another car.

Justin Mills faced the Geelong Magistrates' Court on drug and firearm charges. Picture: Facebook.

Mills, who caused major damage to the victim’s car, failed to stop and continued along the Ring Rd before running into someone else. Witnesses reported he continued to drive recklessly.

Police submitted Mills drove to a Bell Post Hill shopping centre where he ditched the car and fled from the area on foot.

After receiving reports, officers tracked down the car, which had been fitted with false registration plates, and found 36 grams of loose crystal-like substances in a small magnetic box inside.

Officers also found loose pistol rounds, mobile phones and $3800.

In January 2022, police were alerted to a burglary in Geelong where a flyscreen had been removed to gain entry and the house was ransacked, with Mills reportedly taking laptops, a purse and cash.

Later that same month, Mills stole a car from the front of the victim’s house. Police later found him slumped over the wheel of the car and observed that he appeared to be highly drug affected.

Officers searched Mills and found a loaded handgun in his jacket.

They also found two clear resealable bags containing a crystal-like substance, $2086 in cash found in a bum-bag Mills was wearing, car keys belonging to the burglary victim and car keys belonging to Mills.

Several mobile phones and house keys were also found in the car.

At the time, Mills denied the hit-run incidents, denied the burglary, and insisted he was given the car keys by an associate.

Magistrate John Bentley sentenced Mills to 15 months’ imprisonment and a nine-month parole period, with 194 days already served.

Originally published as Geelong dealer Justin Mills leaves money, drugs in car and flees after hit-run crashes