Man charged over Weir Views siege where father and toddler held hostage

A man accused of holding a father and his toddler hostage in the terrifying two-hour siege in Weir Views earlier this week has been charged.

Armed Crime Squad detectives have charged a man over the dramatic siege where a father and his toddler were held hostage at gunpoint in their Weir Views home for two hours on Tuesday.

The 26-year-old Snake Valley man was on Friday slapped with 25 charges over the terrifying ordeal that allegedly started with a carjacking in his hometown early on Tuesday.

He was later found in the Melton area before allegedly firing shots at police on Leon Dr in Weir Views.

It is alleged the man was armed with a rifle when he then entered a nearby home where Ali and his young son were both sleeping.

“It was horrible,” the father of five said.

“It’s unexplainable. If you’re not facing this sort of situation you won’t be able to understand. Imagine someone next to you with a gun.

“(Police) saved myself and my kid. I’m really glad the way they saved me. I’m lucky. Anything can happen, you know,” he said through tears.

The alleged intruder later let Ali and his toddler leave the premises after negotiations with police.

But about 6pm he is alleged to have again fired at police, who returned fire and released a police dog which helped catch him.

The 26-year-old is facing five charges of of assault police, five counts of discharge firearm reckless to safety of police officer, two counts of reckless conduct endangering life and two counts of false imprisonment.

He was also handed charges for aggravated carjacking, theft of motor vehicle, threat to inflict serious injury, prohibited possession firearm, reckless conduct endangering serious injury, dangerous driving, attempted aggravated carjacking, criminal damage, trespass, make threat to kill and prohibited use of a fire arm.

He was set to face Melbourne Magistrates on Friday evening.

A hero police dog helped bring the alleged gunman down. Picture: Ian Currie

Police had previously alleged that the accused was seen jumping on a trampoline with his weapon during the standoff, before he was taken down by the police dog.

Before the siege, the 26-year-old man is accused of committing an aggravated carjacking at Snake Valley, near Ballarat, about 2.30pm on Tuesday, leaving the 70-year-old ­female victim shaken.

A police chopper tracked the white Mitsubishi SUV east towards Melton where the driver allegedly attempted a second carjacking at Weir Views.

It is understood police used road spikes on Gillespie Dr to stop the alleged offender’s ­escape.

Police say that after ditching the car, the man allegedly fired a shot at elite Special Operations Group members before storming the Leon Drive property and holding Ali and his little boy hostage.

Weir Views residents were told to stay indoors and away from windows while SOG members attempted to negotiate with the intruder.

The baby is rushed to safety. Picture: 7 News

Police would not say if demands were made during the siege.

SOG officers were allegedly shot at as they stormed the home with dogs. They returned fire but missed, and their dog bit the alleged ­offender.

Jess Quinn, 32, who was at home with her two kids just two doors down, hailed the police dog as a “hero”.

“What a good puppy,” she said.

Police apprehend a man from the home in Wier Views after their dog was deployed and bit him. Picture: Seven News

Ms Quinn described the moment police swarmed the street, just after 4pm on Tuesday.

“I came out, and (police) shooed me back inside, and then guns drawn, took off next door,” she said.

“I heard them come over the fence so I’ve run to the back door and that’s when I heard the first gunshot.

“I could hear them yell ‘Get on the ground!’”

Amanda McGregor, who lives next door to the house where the siege took place, said she was out picking up her child from daycare when the chaos unfolded.

“I think they have jumped my fence to get to next door, my neighbour also said she saw a lot of commotion at the front of the property at first,” she said.

Another neighbour said: “A man armed with a rifle jumped into our backyard, we called the police.”

Yet another Weir Views resident said police had “smashed open” their side gate and stormed the backyard as they remained locked inside, “worried and scared”.

Police at the two-hour siege on Tuesday. Picture: 7News

A hero police dog helped bring the gunman down. Picture: Supplied

The car allegedly stolen by the 26-year-old man.