Duane Johnson: Man hides on roof in 10-hour police siege

A court has heard a man jumped over Mildura fences and climbed onto a roof to escape police during a 10-hour siege. This is what happened next.

A police helicopter was used during what was described as a 10-hour siege in Mildura.

The man at the centre of a 10-hour siege in Mildura who allegedly planned to stab a person with a needle full of drugs told police he hadn’t slept for three weeks, a court has heard.

Mildura man Duane Johnson, 29, on Tuesday appeared at Mildura Magistrates’ Court facing 17 charges, including making a threat to kill and possessing a drug of dependence.

Johnson made a self-represented application for bail.

A police prosecutor told the court that officers on Monday attended an address on the west side of Mildura where Johnson was believed to be.

The court heard after the officers arrived, Johnson started jumping fences before eventually hiding on the roof of another house.

Police said Johnson had a syringe, which he said contained a combination of methylamphetamine and cocaine.

The court heard Johnson told police it was a good thing they had arrived, because he had been on his way to see another man.

“I was going there to inject this in him,” Johnson allegedly said.

The court was told Johnson remained on the roof for what was a 10-hour siege.

The prosecutor said the incident required two specialist police negotiators, a helicopter and a vehicle to travel from Melbourne to Mildura, and also took up “numerous” police resources.

After the siege ended, Johnson was said to have told police he hadn’t slept in three weeks.

Police opposed bail.

In court Johnson was seen struggling to stay awake.

Asked by Magistrate Michael Coghlan why he should be granted bail, Johnson did not immediately respond.

Johnson later referred to some of his matters as “allegations” that had been “made up”.

“Police have tried to kill me before – that’s the only reason I got on the roof,” Johnson told the court.

Mr Coghlan said the allegations were serious and Johnson seemed to indicate a willingness to run away from police.

Bail was not granted and Johnson will next appear on May 25.

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