Matthew Herrere, Jordan Jenkins face court over alleged aggravated burglary and theft of police car

An allegedly armed man stormed into a woman’s home to demand drugs before escaping in an unmarked police car, a court has heard.

A man accused of stealing a police car, speeding through a town and crashing into and injuring an innocent man has faced court for the first time.

Matthew Herrere 28, and Jordan Jenkins 20, each faced a string of charges at the Latrobe Valley Magistrates’ Court on Monday.

Police alleged the pair were involved in an aggravated burglary in Glengarry about 1.20pm on Friday.

It is alleged the pair broke into a woman’s Main St home armed with machetes and demanded drugs and money.

Court documents reveal the woman and another man at the property tried to hide in a bedroom as Herrere and Jenkins tried to pry open the door and window.

The pair allegedly snatched several bags from the property before allegedly fleeing in a stolen car before they were cornered by police in a dead-end street in Yallourn.

Herrere and Jenkins allegedly drove directly at the police car and fearing they were about to be rammed, the officers jumped out of their car - leaving it running and unlocked.

Two men have faced court on Monday after the alleged theft of a police car and a pursuit through Yallourn

Herrere, who was driving the car, allegedly attempted to drive around the police car but lost control and rolled the car into a ditch.

But as police arrested Jenkins, Herrere allegedly jumped into the driver’s seat of the unmarked police car and fled from the scene.

Police alleged he drove erratically through Yallourn North, where he almost collided with another police car, and was pursued into the township.

He allegedly reached speeds of 160km/hr before allegedly colliding with a white Holden Rodeo at the intersection of the Princes Highway and Hazeldean Rd.

Two men have faced court on Monday after the alleged theft of a police car

The Holden Rodeo became airborne before it and the allegedly stolen police car burst into flames. The driver of the Holden, a 63-year-old man, sustained serious injuries.

Police have alleged Herrere ran from the scene and tried to steal another car before he was arrested.

The incident caused the highway to be closed between Yarragon and Darnum.

An oral fluid test later revealed Herrere, who was on bail at the time of the incident, allegedly had meth in his system.

Both of the accused were remanded in custody to appear in the Sale Magistrates’ Court at a later date.