Police arrest man who allegedly assaulted baby, partner
A man who allegedly assaulted his pregnant partner before leading police on a six-hour chase with his 10-month-old baby in the car has been charged. Two other men interviewed after the incident were released without charge.
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A man who allegedly assaulted his pregnant partner before leading police on a six-hour chase with his 10-month-old baby in the car has been charged.
The 25-year-old Wodonga man is due to face Moorabbin Magistrates’ Court on Thursday charged with a series of offences, including making threats to kill, reckless conduct causing injury, theft of motor vehicle and reckless driving.
Police allege the woman was assaulted and the 10-month-old baby taken from a home in Mentone about midday on Tuesday, triggering the high-speed manhunt.
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The man had allegedly threatened to harm the baby and himself, police said on Tuesday.
Members from the Special Operations Group arrested the man at a service station near Donnybrook about 6pm.
The baby was found safe and well.
Two other men were interviewed after the incident and both released without charge.
Two police officers suffered non-life threatening injuries as a result of the incident.
Police have cordoned off a street in Cranbourne West where a Toyota Yaris has been dumped. It follows the alleged assault and abduction of a 10-month-old child in Mentone. Pregnant woman also allegedly attacked. Male offender remains on the run @theheraldsun pic.twitter.com/5O9l5rfeWW
— Aneeka Simonis (@AneekaSimonis) November 27, 2018
VEHICLE DUMPED IN CRANBOURNE WEST
Paramedics were called to a unit in Neville St, Mentone, after the woman was assaulted.
She told police her partner had assaulted her and her baby before leaving in an aqua-green Toyota Yaris sedan with the child.
Police started getting reports of a car being driven erratically on the Monash Freeway about 12.30pm.
Witnesses reported seeing about 15 police cars on the Monash Freeway, including Highway Patrol, SUVs and unmarked vehicles, in pursuit of the car.
The Toyota Yaris was going at speeds of up to 180km/h as it dangerously wove in and out of traffic.
Police lost sight of the car near EastLink shortly after 1pm.
The vehicle was found dumped in Dean Court, Cranbourne West, about half an hour later.
A baby’s teething ring could be seen through the car window, along with a can of Red Bull, Coca-Cola and a packet of tobacco.
Police issued a statement at 4.01pm saying they believed the man had switched cars..
Detectives helped track the man to the Hume Highway near Donnybrook, where he was finally arrested about 6pm.
On Tuesday night Neighbours of the couple said they had witnessed aggressive episodes between the pair.
One neighbour told the Herald Sun her and her husband had been “keeping an eye on” the couple following a series of incidents which she said made them wary of the young man’s behaviour.
“My husband and I have had conversations before about the two of them,” the woman, who asked not to be named, said.
“The way he communicates with her is not in a very positive manner,” she said.
“We were paying a lot more attention to them.”
Despite the recent episodes, the neighbour said there was nothing to indicate that the behaviour would escalate.
“I never thought something like this would happen,” she said.
She said she recently saw the man playing with his child in the front yard of the property.
“He wasn’t in any way shape or form not nice to the baby,” she said.
Other neighbours said the couple were quiet, kept to themselves and had not been living in the street for very long.
Breaking: Police pursuit down Monash Fwy relates to man who allegedly assaulted his pregnant partner + infant in Mentone. Vicpol allege he took the child, whom he has threatened to further harm. He's travelling in an aqua-green Toyota Yaris sedan (rego WJQ334). More @theheraldsun
— Aneeka Simonis (@AneekaSimonis) November 27, 2018