Jarrod Searle fronts court over high-speed chase through Bendigo

A methed-up hoon led police on a wild chase through Bendigo, driving on the wrong side of the road while the CBD was packed with crowds at a major festival.

A methed-up hoon led police on a wild chase through Bendigo, driving on the wrong side of the road and barrelling through red lights while the CBD was packed with crowds at a major festival.

Jarrod Searle, 26, Strathdale, pleaded guilty in the County Court at Bendigo on Wednesday to charges of dangerous driving, driving while disqualified, conduct endangering persons and using a vehicle that displayed altered number plates.

Searle, who is unemployed, also pleaded guilty to possession of a prohibited and controlled weapons and cartridge and ammunition.

Judge Amanda Chambers remanded him in custody and ordered that he be assessed for a community corrections order before sentence on July 17.

Searle’s wild police chase began about 9.30pm on July 1, 2023 when police tried to stop him while he was driving his mother’s silver Kia Cerrato station wagon using stolen rego plates along Edwards Rd, Kennington with two associates in the car with him.

The Police Air Wing following a methed-up Jarrod Searle through the streets of Bendigo. Picture: Victoria Police/PolAir.

Searle sped off onto the wrong lane on Ellis St before travelling west on Keck St, Flora Hill, fleeing police at high speed onto Somerville St, then Houston St.

Searle continued north onto Carpenter St, dodging oncoming traffic on the wrong side of the road.

Searle then travelled onto Mitchell St in the CBD while the Electric Wonderland festival was in full swing, with “heavy foot traffic” and a “high number of pedestrians in the area”.

CCTV footage shows police chasing Searle onto King St, with the fugitive weaving in and out of side streets until he reached Myrtle St, crossing again onto the wrong side of the road.

On Myrtle St between Hargreaves and High St police clocked Searle doing 85km/h in a 60km/h zone.

Searle carried on the chase down High St, dodging traffic on the wrong side of the road, speeding past Bendigo police station and blasting through a red light at the Thistle St intersection where the Police Air Wing caught up to him at 9.41pm.

The Police Air Wing was called to help during the pursuit and described Searle as “driving like a cut snake” through Bendigo suburbs.

The hoon then turned onto Old High St and clocked 90km/h on the wrong side of the road in a 50km/h zone.

At the intersection of Panton and Oak streets the two passengers jumped out of the car and fled the scene on foot while Searle continued the chase north along Oak St and Hattam St.

The Air Wing continued to follow Searle, observing him travelling on the wrong side of at least seven roads in Quarry Hill, Bendigo, East Bendigo and White Hills for the next 20 minutes, clocking him doing 150km/h on Napier St between Weeroona Ave and Nolan St.

Police Air Wing described Searle as “driving like a cut snake”, “barrelling through” red lights and oncoming traffic to officers giving chase on the ground.

Searle then started speeding towards the Bendigo Hospital on Drought St, with the Air Wing catching him doubling the speed limit at 100km/h past the emergency department along Arnold and Anderson streets.

Searle surrendered on Eaglehawk Rd, Ironbark about 10pm, getting out of his car with his hands in the air with police finding a machete, an extendible baton and a small hatchet axe in the car.

Judge Chambers said having spent just over 11 months on remand since his arrest, Jarrod must have realised how dangerous his driving was that night.

“The fact no one was injured is nothing short of a miracle,” she said.

Judge Chambers said managing his ice addiction would be critical for his rehabilitation and that Odyssey House would be a good starting point.