Travis Smith applied for bail in Dandenong Court over alleged high speed chase through southeast
An accused car thief has begged to be released back into the community after allegedly taking cops on a high speed car chase and hiding on a roof for 90 minutes before surrendering.
South East
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A Hampton Park man has begged for freedom after an alleged high speed car chase through the southeastern suburbs ended with his arrest.
Travis Smith, 28, appeared in the Dandenong Magistrates’ Court on May 14, facing multiple charges including two counts of theft of a motor vehicle, reckless conduct endangering life, two counts of going equipped to steal, nine counts of contravening bail conditions, as well as other drug charges and alleged driving offences.
Police have alleged Mr Smith was involved in two overnight car thefts from Doveton on May 12, alongside a 27-year-old man, also from Hampton Park.
Mr Smith allegedly led AirWing police through Doveton, Narre Warren, Cranbourne and Hampton Park, where he allegedly drove through red lights at an excessive speed.
Mr Smith allegedly avoided deployed stop sticks on Power Rd, Princes Hwy and Kidds Rd in Doveton, before allegedly dumping the vehicle in Dulnain Close in Hampton Park where police say he jumped into another allegedly stolen car driven by his co-accused.
Police allege the AirWing continued to track the pair as they fled to a Berwick address.
The court heard cops arrested his co-accused inside the house, before Mr Smith allegedly jumped numerous fences behind the property and climbed onto the roof of a Lyndall Crt residence.
Police allege Mr Smith remained on the roof for 90 minutes before surrendering into custody.
In court on Wednesday, Mr Smith applied for bail, asking the court to release him to a close family friend’s home in Geelong.
Police opposed the application, saying Mr Smith was an “unacceptable risk of endangering the safety and welfare of the community”.
Mr Smith’s family friend of 27 years Trudi Long told the court she would “lock away her keys while she slept” to stop him from driving while on bail.
“He would only have access to my car as a passenger,” she said.
Ms Long said she had direct connections with Indigenous support providers — as Mr Smith is an Indigenous person — and would assist him in “reconnecting with his culture”.
Magistrate Francis Medina adjourned the bail application in order for Mr Smith’s lawyer to obtain formal confirmation of the community support offered by Ms Long.
“I’m concerned … This is high risk behaviour and endangering members of the community,” she said.
“I’m concerned about how quickly these supports can be put in place.”
Mr Smith will return to court on May 22 for the continuation of his bail application.
His co-accused was released on bail and will front Dandenong Magistrates’ Court in August.
