Man allegedly attempts to swim from police in Lake Burley Griffin after pursuit

A police pursuit of a car towing another vehicle through southern NSW into the ACT has ended in Lake Burley Griffin, after the alleged driver fled into the water and swam away from cops.

A supplied image of the alleged pursuit.

A 38-year-old man allegedly attempted to evade police by jumping into Lake Burley Griffin following a cross-border vehicle pursuit.

The high speed chase involved nearly 20 police cars under lights and sirens through Canberra's southern suburbs of Kingston and Fyshwick.

The pursuit lasted almost 25 minutes after 9am, during Canberra's morning rush hour on April 8 before the car being pursued allegedly crashed.

The black Ford Ranger allegedly involved was towing a car trailer with a Toyota HiLux on it, when it entered the ACT from Queanbeyan.

During the pursuit, the vehicle allegedly crossed to the wrong side of the road multiple times and drove on footpaths along Lake Burley Griffin.

The vehicle came to a stop behind the National Gallery with the driver then entering Lake Burley Griffin in an apparent attempt to evade arrest.

Officers from the AFP Tactical Response team entered the water and brought the man back to shore, where he was taken into custody.

A roadside drug test allegedly returned a positive result for a prescribed drug.

A 35-year-old man, who was a passenger in the vehicle, is assisting police with inquiries.

A search of the vehicle allegedly uncovered a knife and ammunition.

No one was injured in the police pursuit.

ACT Policing’s Proactive Policing Team are investigating and have requested anyone with footage of the Ford Ranger towing a Toyota HiLux in Fyshwick, Kingston, and Barton this morning to come forward.
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Originally published as Man allegedly attempts to swim from police in Lake Burley Griffin after pursuit