Alleged Bourke Street Mall runaway driver arrested

Police have arrested a man who they believe drove a car through Melbourne’s Bourke Street Mall, terrifying pedestrians.

Police have arrested a man who allegedly tore down Melbourne’s Bourke Street Mall in a car last week, terrifying pedestrians and evading police.

The 20-year-old man was arrested an address in Ballarat just before 4pm on Thursday, Victoria Police said.

He is in custody helping investigators with their inquiries.

Police say they are not looking for anyone else as part of their investigation.

A warrant was issued for Bryce O’Donnell in relation to Bourke Street incident on January 28. Picture: Victoria Police

Hours earlier, police released an arrest warrant for Bryce O’Donnell over the incident in the CBD on January 28.

Police allege Mr O’Donnell was the driver of the green Mitsubishi Lancer that evaded public order response team officers on Swanston Street and drove into the mall.

The incident, which occurred during the afternoon rush about 4.55pm, sent shoppers and pedestrians running for cover.The Lancer was then blocked by two trams travelling along Bourke Street and a police car near Elizabeth Street where a passenger got out and ran away.

But after ramming into the bollards outside Myer, the car was able to do a U-turn and head back up the mall towards Swanston Street and away from police.

A green car being pursued by police crashes into a bollard in the Bourke Street Mall on January 28.

Police lost sight of the car and the driver was able to get away.

The car was spotted driving through Southbank and heading towards St Kilda before it was found by a member of the public in an underground carpark on Ashworth Street in Albert Park about 6.40pm without number plates.

Police had earlier urged the 20-year-old to make contact and hand himself in.

Bryce O’Donnell is known to visit Ballarat. Picture: Victoria Police

The car gets away from police in the Bourke Street Mall.

Originally published as Alleged Bourke Street Mall runaway driver arrested