Man allegedly steals taxi at knifepoint, leads police on high-speed chase through Canberra

A Canberra man accused of stealing a taxi at knifepoint led police on a reckless high-speed chase through the city before a dramatic arrest in the suburbs.

A man allegedly stole a taxi at knifepoint and led police on a chase through Canberra suburbs on Sunday morning.

Anthony Bruce Neil Merritt allegedly got into the taxi at Bunda St in the capital’s city centre at 2am on February 23 before allegedly threatening the driver with a knife.

Police allege the driver was able to jump out of the taxi before calling the police on Alinga St.

The 29-year-old man allegedly drove off and then was later located 12km away in Macquarie when police pursued him.

Police stated the car was allegedly exceeding the speed limit and driving on the wrong side of the road.

The alleged police car chase ended in Whitlam when the man mounted a kerb and stopped.

On February 24 the application for bail was rejected.

Chief Magistrate Lorraine Walker told the court he “continues to pose a risk to the public”, determining it was not appropriate to grant bail.

The man was later arrested and charged with taking a motor vehicle without consent, possessing a knife without a reasonable excuse, unlicensed driving and reckless driving.

He will appear in court again on the 17th of March.

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Originally published as Man allegedly steals taxi at knifepoint, leads police on high-speed chase through Canberra