Jesse Long: Kangaroo Flat ‘cowboy’ rams Bendigo police car

A “cowboy” rammed a cop car three times during a demolition derby style attempt to outrun the law in Bendigo.

Kangaroo Flat man Jesse Long appeared in Bendigo Magistrates' Court to plead guilty to ramming a police vehicle in Bendigo on November 22, 2020. Picture: Zizi Averill

A Kangaroo Flat “cowboy” rammed a cop car three times during a demolition derby style attempt to outrun the law, a court has heard.

Jesse Long, 26, appeared in Bendigo Magistrate’s Court on Friday to plead guilty to ramming the cop car and smashing into another ute on November 22 2020.

The court heard Long drove by his mate’s house, who claimed he was being “raided” to scope out the police presence.

Two police officers were waiting near the Bendigo home after no one answered when they knocked on the door.

Long, who had his driver’s licence disqualified a month earlier, parked at his mate’s address but tried to flee as soon as he saw the officers.

The court heard police positioned their vehicle to stop him from driving off but Long smashed into the car.

Long slammed the car into reverse and hit the vehicle again, before he smashed into a Ford ute parked nearby.

The officers were about to get out of their smashed up car when Long rammed it a third time and escaped.

The cop car was left with $3300 worth of damage including crumpled passenger and drivers’ doors.

It took officers nine days to track down the Toyota Corolla which was dumped in bushland at Kangaroo Flat – just 3km for Long’s home.

Forensic detectives said the inside of the vehicle was sprayed with a corrosive substance to destroy evidence, but masks and cigarette butts were littered around the car providing DNA proof.

Kangaroo Flat man Jesse Long appeared in Bendigo Magistrates' Court to plead guilty to ramming a police vehicle in Bendigo on November 22 2020. Picture: Zizi Averill

When police arrived at Long’s Kangaroo Flat home to arrest him, the 26-year-old fled from a caravan at the rear of the property.

He was eventually arrested and taken to Bendigo Police Station.

A search of his property found the keys to the smashed up Toyota and a LSD tab.

Long initially denied any knowledge of the offending, claiming he was playing Xbox for the entire day.

“That’s f —king bullsh-t,” Long told officers during questioning.

“I can tell you nothing on it.”

He also claimed he picked up the LSD tab from the ground and kept it in his wallet, but had no intention of taking it.

His lawyer Robert Morgan said Long had a poor criminal history and a “not flash” driving record.

Mr Morgan said Long had already served 48 days in pre-sentence detention.

Mr Morgan said since being released Long had not been in trouble with the law, had avoided getting behind the wheel, was drug-free and had been working full-time at a restumping business.

Mr Morgan said Long recognised his actions as “atrocious and appalling” and was “genuinely remorseful”.

Magistrate Russell Kelly said it was clear Long’s “cowboy episode” was so he and his mate could escape.

He said also knew the people in the car whose lives he was putting at risk were police officers.

Mr Kelly sentenced Long to 48 days in prison, already served, followed by a two-year community corrections order, with a focus on mental health, drug use and supervision.

Long also had his licence disqualified for two years.