Reverend wrestled with carjacker dressed as a cop while wielding fake gun
A former reverend has recounted the moment he “stared down the barrel” of a black pistol, which turned out to be fake, before the grandfather’s car was stolen by a man dressed as a cop.
VIC News
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A former Uniting Church reverend, who was carjacked by a thug posed as a cop with a fake gun, has stopped short of forgiving his attacker.
John Evans, a grandfather and reverend of 35 years, said the carjacker and his co-accused must be held accountable for the violent attack.
“They need to have what they have done held up to them,” he said when asked if he had forgiven his attacker.
“But as I sit here I don’t feel hatred or revenge - it’s just totally and utterly regrettable for me.”
Mr Evans said he “stared down the barrel” of the small black pistol and quickly decided it was plastic.
He said he felt “calm” while his attacker grew increasingly panicked as he could not find the keys his vehicle.
The “flummoxed” thug eventually cottoned on the new model Subaru was keyless entry and ripped open Mr Evan’s trouser pocket to retrieve the keys.
The reverend said he “hit the deck” after being dragged from the car, hurting his knee.
An ensuing “kerfuffle” sent the fake gun flying into a gutter.
The carjacker made no attempts to retrieve his fake weapon and drove off in the victim’s car.
The fake pistol was seized by police.
Mr Evans acknowledged the incident was “no time to have a deep and meaningful discussion” with the thug to understand his action.
But he said it was a “point of great sadness” that such violence was occurring in society.
Mr Evans first believed his attacker wanted his park at the Royal Park Golf Club.
He beeped twice at the driver who blocked him into the car space before aggressively approaching his car door.
What he thought was a case of “road rage” quickly became something more serious, said Mr Evans.
He believed the thug intentionally dressed to impersonate a police officer.
Embona Taskforce Detective Senior Constable Anthony Murphy said it was a “very serious” incident.
He urged the public to help police catch the offender and his co-accused.
DSC Murphy advised the public to “treat everything as real” if confronted by a weapon that appeared as fake.
“This would have been a really scary situation to have been in,” he said.
Victoria Police spokeswoman Creina O’Grady said detectives are appealing for any witnesses to come forward.
“Melbourne Embona Robbery Taskforce detectives are appealing for witnesses following an aggravated carjacking in Parkville on Monday morning,” Ms O’Grady said.
“The victim was not injured in the incident and after locating the pistol it was determined to be an imitation.
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“Investigators have released an image of the victim’s car and a computer-generated image of a man they believe can assist with their enquiries.”
Anyone who witnessed the carjacking — or sights the car, which has a registration of 1OO 1DS — or anyone with dashcam footage is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or submit a confidential report at www.crimestoppersvic.com.au