Man allegedly flees police in stolen car after failing drug test near Gold Coast
A man has allegedly fled police in a stolen car after failing a random drug test near the Gold Coast.
Police & Courts
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A MAN has been arrested near the Gold Coast after allegedly testing positive for drugs and fleeing police in a stolen vehicle yesterday.
The 23-year-old man was stopped for a random breath and drug test while driving a Holden Commodore in Tweed Heads South at 11pm.
The breath test returned negative but after the drug test police noticed his licence was suspended.
He then allegedly accelerated from the scene and officers gave chase.
Road spikes were deployed at an M1 on-ramp at Brunswick Heads and the car came to a stop, but police say the driver attempted to flee the scene on foot.
He was arrested and taken to Byron Bay Hospital for mandatory testing, and has now been charged with a string of offences including police pursuit without stopping, driving dangerously, driving while licence suspended, receiving stolen property outside NSW and driving a vehicle under the influence of drugs.
It has now been established the car was stolen on March 13.
The man was refused bail to appear before Tweed Heads Local Court tomorrow.
The arrest came as part of Operation Nabbed North, a high-visibility traffic operation targeting impaired drivers over the weekend.
Officers conducted random breath and drug tests on the M1 between Tweed Heads and Ballina on Friday and Saturday night, charging 60 drivers for driving under the influence of alcohol.
A further 19 people tested positive for drug-driving.
A 44-year-old man was arrested after allegedly completing a U-turn on the M1 to avoid the random breath site, forcing a police pursuit.
He was charged with police pursuit, dangerous driving, speeding and drug-driving, with the vehicle impounded for three months.
He was granted conditional bail to appear before Tweed Heads Local Court next month.
A 38-year-old man in the passenger seat was also arrested and charged for outstanding domestic-violence offences.
Also arrested was a 17-year-old and three passengers, two aged 16 and one aged 13, after a vehicle failed to stop for a random breath test near Sleepy Hollow.
The teenage driver was taken to Byron Bay Police Station and charged with police pursuit, negligent driving, learner unaccompanied driver, not displaying L plates and possessing stolen property.
He was refused bail and appeared before the Children’s Court today. The three passengers were dealt with under the Young Offenders Act.
Regional Traffic and Highway Patrol Commander Superintendent Paul Glinn said it was disappointing to see drivers put themselves and others at risk.
“The message is simple, if you are affected by drugs or alcohol, you should not be in control of a vehicle,” he said.
“Drivers should remember that police can be anywhere at any time and you will get caught if you break the law.
“This applies not only to Traffic and Highway Patrol officers, but all members of NSW Police who see road safety as a serious issue.”
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