Jake Kevin Watts charged with alleged armed robbery of truck at Farnborough

An apprentice builder was forced to jump out of his truck when a man he picked up allegedly turned on him with a metal pole and took his Hino on a wild, two hour rampage which saw him ram cars.

A good Samaritan apprentice builder who picked up a man who flagged him down on the side of a Queensland road jumped out of his moving truck when his passenger allegedly turned on him while armed with a metal pole.

Police say the 30-year-old man grabbed a pole already inside the white Hino truck then allegedly went on a wild rampage throughout Rockhampton and Yeppoon.

Detective Acting Senior Sergeant Kevin Mawdsley said Jake Kevin Watts was allegedly seen colliding with cars and is even accused of driving into a front yard where children were playing.

Police allege a school crossing supervisor at St Joseph’s School on Main St, Park Avenue, had to take evasive action about 3.15pm because of Mr Watts’ dangerous driving.

Detective Acting Senior Sergeant Kevin Mawdsley. Picture: Aden Stokes

Police found Mr Watts and the truck near the Bruce Highway at Etna Creek about 4.15pm.

Detective Acting Senior Sergeant Mawdsley said police took him into custody on the highway in a 100 km/h zone after wrestling him out of the truck cabin and tasing him when he continued to struggle.

“They were able to apprehend him without injury to themselves, the driver of the vehicle or any other community members,“ he said.

“He was far from compliant.”

Detective Acting Senior Sergeant Mawdsley said after Mr Watts was arrested he allegedly damaged a police vehicle, kicking out a window and “rendering it inoperable” for a period of time.

He said the 18-year-old apprentice builder picked him up in the truck when Mr Watts flagged him down on Farnborough Rd, Farnborough about 2pm on Monday, August 26.

“The driver of the vehicle did what he thought was a good deed and stopped to help this gentleman out,” he said.

“Initially it was friendly and the person asked to be taken to the Yeppoon CBD area.”

However, Detective Acting Senior Sergeant Mawdsley said Mr Watts allegedly armed himself with a metal pole he found with the cabin of the truck and threatened the driver.

“(The driver) actually exited the vehicle while the vehicle was still rolling,“ he said.

“He was that concerned he needed to get out of there as soon as he could.

“The passenger then assumed charge of the vehicle and drove that vehicle from Yeppoon to North Rockhampton.”

Detective Acting Senior Sergeant Mawdsley said the teenage apprentice builder was “fairly shaken up”.

“Unfortunately, this incident is probably going to leave him being distrustful of other people in circumstances like this,” he said.

“It was a fairly confronting and harrowing incident for a young person to be exposed to.

“We are putting some necessary support processes in place for him.”

Mr Watts was charged with robbery with actual violence while armed, dangerous operation of a vehicle, two counts of obstruct police and wilful damage.

Mr Watts did not appear in court and did not make an application for bail.

His solicitor, Grant Cagney, requested a full brief of evidence for the charges.

Magistrate Grace Kahlert revoked Mr Watts’ bail for other matters in the magistrates and district courts and he was remanded in custody.

Police have requested anyone with information about the incident, including dashcam or CCTV footage of the truck being driven at any time on Monday, to contact them.

Investigations are ongoing.

Originally published as Jake Kevin Watts charged with alleged armed robbery of truck at Farnborough