Man leads police on high-speed chase through Adelaide’s southwestern suburbs

A man has been arrested after being spotted at a troubled housing complex leading to a dangerous police chase.

The police chases started at the troubled Novar Gardens Housing Trust on Bonython Ave. Picture: Emma Brasier

A man has been arrested following a dramatic pursuit through a southwestern suburb after being approached by police at the back of an abandoned unit at a troubled public housing block.

About 8.30pm on Friday 9 May, patrols were called to unit one, Bonython Ave, Novar Gardens after reports there was a man in the rear yard of a unit who was unknown to the residents before he allegedly jumped in a car and drove through the gate - sparking the beginning of six kilometre police chase.

Police say when they arrived they spotted a man behind the locked gate and told him to come out from the yard, however he entered a vehicle and drove through the gate.

Police explained that after he drove through the gate with his white Holden Commodore, he took off and headed out the driveway, then swerved towards police who had to move to avoid being hit.

Novar Gardens Public Housing Empty Houses. Supplied

A fire a the same complex last year. Image: supplied

The car then headed east towards Morphett Road and continued onto Mooringe Ave and south on Marion Road where Polair started tracking the car.

The car was tracked by Polair travelling without headlights and at high speeds to Lindsay Ave at Edwardstown where it was dumped in a shopping centre car park and the driver attempted to run from the area.

Patrols located the driver a short distance away hiding behind skip bins and he was arrested.

Police searched the vehicle where they located methamphetamine and items suspected to have been stolen.

A 33-year-old man from Stockport was charged with acts to endanger life, dangerous driving to cause a police pursuit, driving at a speed dangerous, unlawfully on premises, driving disqualified and possessing a controlled drug. He was refused police bail and will appear in court on Monday 12 May.

The incident comes from the same boarded-up empty unit The Advertiser reported on when it visited the complex late last month to investigate claims the set of Trust units had become besieged by bikies, squatters and pitbulls

At unit one when we visited, we saw a young couple squatting in the backyard of a long-vacant property, sleeping on a torn vinyl couch with another large, unchained pit bull.

Abandoned trust units at the complex. Picture: Emma Brasier

It is believed this man was not a part of the same people squatting at the property when The Advertiser visited in April.

There is no suggestion that the man arrested last night was involved with bikies or was a drug user.

Originally published as Man leads police on high-speed chase through Adelaide’s southwestern suburbs