Two men fined for breaching coronavirus restrictions after police car allegedly rammed
Two men have been fined for breaching coronavirus restrictions after a wild pursuit through Melbourne’s west that started when a police car was allegedly rammed in Williams Landing.
North West
Don't miss out on the headlines from North West. Followed categories will be added to My News.
Two men have been fined for breaching coronavirus restrictions after a police vehicle was allegedly rammed in Melbourne’s west.
Police were attempting to speak to the driver of a car parked in a Williams Landing carpark just after 3am on Sunday morning when the driver reversed into the police vehicle.
Police said one of the officers had to take evasive action to avoid being hit by the car, which sped off after ramming the police unit.
A police pursuit was initiated with the offending vehicle allegedly driven at “excessive speeds” on Little Boundary Rd, the Western Ring Road and against oncoming traffic on the Princes Freeway.
The chase ended in Unicorn Crt in Truganina when the occupants tried to run from the vehicle and two men were arrested.
The driver, an 18-year-old Frankston man, was charged aggravated and intentional exposure of police officer to risk by driving, damage to an emergency vehicle by reckless driving, dangerous driving while being pursued by police and reckless conduct endangering life.
He was also charged with armed robbery, which related to an incident in Point Cook on April 2.
He was remanded to appear at the Melbourne Magistrates’ Court today.
Both the driver and his passenger, a 24-year-old Braybrook man, were found to be in breach of the chief health officer’s directive to stay at home without a valid reason to be out and were fined $1652 each.
It comes after police handed out more than $6000 in fines in Gisborne on Thursday to people breaching the restrictions to help stop the spread of coronavirus.
Two people in Melton and one in Footscray were also found in breach of the rules last week and were fined $1652 each.
Deputy Commissioner Shane Patton said on Sunday while the majority of the Victorian community were doing the right thing, there were people that continued to flout the rules and put people’s lives at risk.
“Our message is this – people should not be leaving their own home for any reason other than the four we have described, if they do there is every chance they will receive a significant fine,” he said.
The four reasons to leave home are to get essential goods and services, for care and other compassionate reasons, to work or study or to exercise.
As of 8am on Monday, police had conducted 14,275 spot checks and issued 307 fines to people breaching the restrictions.
Almost 150 fines were issued in the 24 hours to Sunday morning where a majority of breaches were given to people outside their home and attending disruptive house parties or gathering in public parks, including in Flemington and Point Cook.
The investigation in relation to a third passenger who fled the car in Truganina is continuing.
Anyone with information should contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
MORE: ACCUSED SERIAL FIRE-STARTER TO STAND TRIAL
COUPLE ATTACKED BY BEES AFTER TREE FALL