Dylan Connelly: Frankston North man in court after cop car allegedly rammed during Cranbourne pursuit
A Frankston North man has landed in court after he allegedly rushed to help friends as they fled police in Cranbourne.
South East
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A Frankston North man allegedly rammed a police car as he attempted to help his friend make a getaway during a crime spree, a court has heard.
Dylan Connelly, 28, fronted the Frankston Magistrates’ Court via video link on Wednesday facing charges including damage an emergency service vehicle.
The court was told Connelly’s friend allegedly called and asked for help after the man and his alleged co-offenders became embroiled in a police pursuit in Clyde on September 26.
It came after witnesses raised the alarm after allegedly spotting a number of offenders towing a black BMW sedan onto a truck outside a Bakers Rd address about 8am.
Police allegedly attempted to intercept the truck on Campbells Rd but the driver failed to stop, allegedly swerving onto the wrong side of the road before running a red light near Linsell Blvd.
The offenders allegedly continued down Hall Rd but stopped about 8.20am after hitting stop sticks on Evans Rd, Cranbourne West.
Police allege a blue Volkswagen, driven by Connolly, then stopped in front of the truck.
“It was the first occasion the police observed the blue Volkswagen, it wasn’t driving in convoy,” the prosecution said.
The court heard the offenders allegedly tried to get into Connolly’s car with one shouting
“go go go”.
Connolly allegedly accelerated hard and slammed into a police car.
He was arrested and allegedly told officers his mate had called and told him to “help” and pick him up from Hall Rd during the chase.
“My mate tried to get into my car … I wasn’t looking in front of me … I didn’t mean to ram the police car, it was an accident and I just froze,” Connolly said.
The court heard Connolly suffers from anxiety and depression but has strong support from his family.
Magistrate Gerard Lethbridge said the circumstances surrounding the incident were “serious” but said images of the police car displayed minor signs of damage.
“In all fairness it can only be described as a very minor collision with the police car,” he said.
Mr Lethbridge denied Connelly’s application for bail.
He will return on December 9.
