DAY 2: Police officer Peter Andrew Venz pleads not guilty to dangerous chase accusations

A police officer accused of driving dangerously during a moped chase was sent there after a fellow officer complained about men on a moped making death threats, a court was told.

A police officer accused of driving dangerously during a 12-minute moped chase was sent there after a fellow officer complained about men on a moped making death threats, a court was told.

Sergeant Peter Andrew Venz has pleaded not guilty in the Southport Magistrates Court to dangerous operation of a motor vehicle.

It is alleged Venz was on a police trail bike when he started pursuit of a moped on Oceanic Drive, Mermaid Waters about 4pm on June 9 last year.

Sergeant Peter Venz outside Southport Courthouse. Picture: Jacob Miley.

Venz allegedly drove dangerously during the pursuit of the moped which refused to stop for him.

Footage played to the court shows the chase going onto the footpath at a construction site near Burleigh National Park, the wrong way down a one-way street, cutting off an Audi on Hedges Ave and through Tallebudgera Tourist Park.

The entire chase took about 12 minutes, ended near Tallebudgera Tourist Park and was captured on body worn camera by Venz.

The court was told on Thursday that Venz was sent to do patrols near Pizzey Park after dog squad cop Senior Constable Nicholas Donald made complaints about a moped making repeated threats against him as it passed his home.

Sergeant Peter Venz pictured in 2020. Picture: Jerad Williams

Sen Const. Donald told the court he saw the red moped three or four times in May last year and at least twice in June, including the day of the chase.

He said the two men would make threats.

“He was yelling out, ‘you are f-----g dead, you dog’,” Sen Const. Donald said.

“Then he pointed at me.”

He said they were wearing black and had helmets on, but they had “the build of adults” and from their voices they were “grown men”.

Sen Const. Donald said he reported the incidents to a number of officers and asked for patrols to be conducted around the area.

He said the day of the incident he was working in his garage when the men on the moped went past and made the same threats.

Sen Const. Donald said he called Surfers Paradise police, made a complaint and asked for officers to conduct patrols if they were available.

Senior Constable Nicholas Donald made complaints about moped riders making repeated threats against him. Picture: Glenn Hampson

“I just wanted a police presence in the area in case they come back,” he said.

Earlier in the proceedings construction workers said they were surprised by the moped when it came onto the footpath near Burleigh National Park.

But they said the police trail bike had lights flashing and slowed down when it approached the workers.

Later, it was revealed in the court that Venz had received an email saying trail bikes should not be used in pursuits.

Inspector Jason Tuffley told the court he sent an email in August 2019 that the trial bikes should not be used in “urgent duty driving”. He said that included in pursuits.

“They did not have lights and sirens,” he said.

“It was not in the Operational Procedure Manual for these to be used in pursuits.”

Insp Tuffley said the email was sent after he had conducted a review following a pursuit across the Gold Coast which resulted in the death of teenager Logan Dreier.

He told the court he received an email from Venz who agreed with the decision.

Insp Tuffley told the court he was not aware of any changes had been made to that decision.

The trial continues.

Trial day one – Venz pleads not guilty to chase accusations

DECEMBER 7: A police officer alleged to have driven dangerously in pursuit of two men on a moped had come across them patrolling for hoons near Pizzey Park.

Sergeant Peter Andrew Venz pleaded not guilty in the Southport Magistrates Court on Tuesday to dangerous operation of a motor vehicle.

It is alleged Venz was on a police trail bike when he started the pursuit on Oceanic Drive, Mermaid Waters at 4pm on June 9 last year. He allegedly drove dangerously in pursuit of the moped which refused to stop. The chase took 12 minutes.

The court was told on Tuesday, Venz was sent to Pizzey Park after reports of people on a motorbike. He was on his way from Broadbeach station to Covid duties at the airport.

He came across the moped pair at Sunshine Blvd, Mermaid Waters and gave chase.

Audio of police radio played to the court captured an officer saying at the start of it: “These are the guys who’ve been terrorising the neighbourhood”.

Body camera footage of the pursuit by Venz was played to the court and showed him following two men on a moped.

Venz loses the moped and gives up the pursuit. The footage showed the moped and bike in the bicycle lane on Sunshine Blvd, Mermaid Waters going against traffic.

At one point it passes a Surfside bus heading directed towards them. The driver Dragan Damjanovic told the court he had seven or eight passengers on board at the time.

Southport police officer-in-charge Senior Sergeant Christopher Smith told the court at one point the distance between the gutter and white line on Sunshine Blvd was just 90cm.

The pursuit went across the southern Gold Coast including Markeri St, Hedges Ave and Albatross Ave. It finishes near Tallebudgera Tourist Park.

At different points, footage appears to show the moped and Venz going the wrong way down a one-way street, crossing a raised traffic island and driving on a footpath near the Burleigh National Park.

The trial was adjourned to March 28 next year when Venz is expected to give evidence.

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