Bendigo Highway Patrol members recall dangerous arrest attempt on Calder Hwy
A mother of four who attacked police during an arrest in regional Victoria was on bail for spitting on an officer just days before. But despite being deemed a “high risk” of reoffending, she’ll be out of jail in days.
North West
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A police officer sent flying into a tree and her partner, who fell from a speeding car into oncoming traffic during a sensational arrest on the Calder Highway are lucky to be alive.
The terrifying ordeal unfolded after the Bendigo Highway Patrol members attempted to arrest Ammar Najjar and his girlfriend Shari Oliver at Kangaroo Flat on July 6, 2018.
Oliver, 26, was sentenced in the County Court yesterday to nine months’ jail after pleading guilty to charges including two counts of recklessly causing injury to police over the incident.
However, Oliver, who was assessed as being a “high risk” of reoffending, will be back on the street in four days as she had already spent 265 days in custody.
The court heard Najjar and Oliver attempted to bolt in a suspected stolen Honda Civic after they were approached by police just before 6.30pm.
One of the officers wrestled Najjar for control of the gear shift but was attacked by Oliver who gouged and scratched the officer’s eye, the court heard.
Oliver then shifted the gear stick from park to drive to reverse.
The car drifted across two lanes of heavy Calder Hwy traffic and into the median strip.
The second officer jumped clear of the runaway car as it rolled towards her.
The court heard she “dry-stunned” Najjar multiple times with her taser, and capsicum sprayed him but he couldn't be stopped.
The car rolled forward into an electrical pole before it reversed at a “high rate of speed”.
The female officer was struck by the open driver’s door which sent her flying into a tree.
A passing motorist helped the officer as she lay unconscious on the roadside.
The car – with the other officer still inside – swung back across the freeway and up an embankment before smashing into a large gumtree.
The court heard Najjar reversed back onto the highway while the officer desperately clung to the car.
Oliver took control of the steering wheel after the officer put Najjar in a headlock.
The car sped up along the highway with the officer still hanging on.
He asked Najjar to slow down so he could “get out”, the court heard.
The car slowed down but sped up just before the officer had the chance to get out.
He pushed himself out but had to roll across multiple lanes to avoid oncoming traffic.
The court heard Najjar and Oliver fled but were arrested about 20km away.
Both officers spent the night in hospital with serious injuries including multiple fractures.
The female officer, in her victim impact statement, said the incident remained “vivid”.
“I feel something hit me from behind, picking me up, launching me into the air … I’m flying,” she said.
“I see a large tree and say to myself, ‘this is going to hurt’.
The court heard Oliver was on bail for spitting at police just two days earlier.
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Judge Paul Lacava said the pair’s offending was “clearly an attack on police”.
“They directed their anger and violence at police,” Judge Lacava said.
“I don’t see any other way it can be characterised other than an attack on police carrying out their duty.
“It was a very dangerous situation … it’s only luck here that it’s limited to that and no one was killed.”
Judge Lacava said during sentencing that Oliver and Najjar’s “cruelty” would stay with the police on every shift for the rest of their lives.
Oliver will commence a two-year community corrections order when released.
Najjar will face court at a later date.