Jason Ruscoe caught after tow truck police chase says money was ‘Centrelink COVID-19 cash’
Pandemic payments weren’t designed to end up in a druggie’s bag. But that’s exactly where one Langwarrin crook says his $2k in cash had come from after he was found running from a tow truck crash.
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A career crook caught fleeing the scene of a tow truck chase crash found with drugs and $2000 in a bag says the money was “Centrelink COVID cash”.
Jason Mark Ruscoe was a passenger in a truck involved in a wild police pursuit across Clyde North, Cranbourne West and Skye.
The Langwarrin 29-year-old pleaded guilty to five drug, proceeds of crime and bail-related charges at the online Frankston Magistrates’ Court on Friday.
The court heard at 8am on September 26 this year police were called to a bogged tow truck trying to pick up a BMW in Clyde North.
When they arrived the truck had managed to get free and now had the BMW, which had false plates on it, on the back of the tray.
When the driver saw police he accelerated away on the wrong side of the road and through a red light as he raced through Cranbourne West and towards Skye.
Stop sticks were deployed and the truck, which by now had two busted tyres, slowed in Hall Rd, Skye.
Ruscoe jumped from the cab and did a runner but minutes later was located hiding behind a nearby vehicle with a satchel containing small bags of ice, an ecstasy tablet and Valium pills, as well as $2165 in cash.
He told police he had withdrawn the money the night before from an ATM — he didn’t say where — and that it was a Centrelink fortnightly payment which included a $700 COVID-19 bonus.
He had only been out of jail for a month after serving a two-year sentence for similar offending.
His defence lawyer said he wasn’t directly involved in the tow truck pursuit and “didn’t know what he was caught up in”.
She said he ran from the police because he suffers panic attacks and knew he had drugs in his possession.
She said upon release he would have support for the first time through the NDIS scheme.
Magistrate Vicky Prapas warned Ruscoe that continual offending would mean longer and longer jail terms.
“You were caught in possession of $2000 you can’t account for, as well as drugs,” Ms Prapas said.
“You’ve been in jail a lot.
“You have to understand every time you get picked up, you will get locked up.”
Ruscoe was jailed for 30 days, minus 20 days he has already served.
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