Frank Ingram faces court following Coolalinga Hungry Jack’s arrest

The family of one of the men taken down in a dramatic drive-through arrest have criticised the heavy police response.

THE family of a man who faced down the barrel of a police gun at a Hungry Jack’s drive-through have accused cops of putting Territorians at risk.

Frank William Ingram, 30, appeared behind the security screen of Darwin Local Court for the first time on Tuesday charged with 18 offences, including being armed in public, assault and dangerous driving.

Ingram was one of two men cornered in a dramatic arrest at the Coolalinga Hungry Jack’s drive-through on January 5, following a large-scale manhunt.

Police alleged on the same day of the fast-food standoff, the 30-year-old used a crossbow to threaten people in their Palmerston home.

Frank William Ingram, 30, was one of two men in a dramatic arrest at the Coolalinga Hungry Jack’s drive-through on January 5.

Ingram allegedly left the Gray home, but returned an hour later armed with a shotgun.

Territory Response Group, the dog squad, Serious Crime detectives and general duties police were all involved in the search for Ingram and his 31-year-old co-accused.

It was alleged the pair were briefly cornered at the Karama petrol station, but Ingram managed to dive into the tray of a stolen ute before it sped off.

Officers swarmed around their blue ute when Ingram and the 31-year-old stopped for a 6pm feed at the Coolalinga Hungry Jack’s drive-through.

Footage of the alleged arrest appeared to show undercover cops dressed in high-vis, balaclavas and Centrelink singlets pointing guns and tasers at Ingram.

Dramatic footage of a NT Police serious crimes bust at the Hungry Jacks drive-through at Coolalinga, off the Stuart Highway on Thursday January 5.

Ingram allegedly tried to bat away officers with a broken window screen, with bean bag rounds, tasers, and capsicum spray reportedly used to restrain him.

Police alleged Ingram used a tyre iron to fight police off, and that there was a shotgun laying under the back seat of the ute.

Shotgun cartridges, a crossbow, knives and drug paraphernalia were also allegedly seized.

On Tuesday Chief Justice Elizabeth Morris said Ingram’s parole had been revoked by the parole board 14 days before the Coolalinga arrest.

Dramatic footage of a NT Police serious crimes bust at the Hungry Jacks drive-through at Coolalinga, off the Stuart Highway on Thursday January 5.

Defence barrister Hugo Atkinson made no application for bail, and Ingram returned to prison under an old sentence.

As he was taken back into the cells, the 30-year-old pulled up his sleeve to reveal to his loved ones a large patch covering an injury from the arrest.

His cousin, Irene Taylor said that brief moment was the first time her family were able to see and speak to the 30-year-old since his arrest.

A 30-year-old man was allegedly in possession of a crossbow and shotgun when he was dramatically arrested by police at Coolalinga Hungry Jack's. Picture: NT Police

Outside of court Ms Taylor said the family were shocked and heartbroken at the police response, saying the heavily armed raid at the busy drive-through was inappropriate.

“It was uncalled for, their behaviour when they arrested my brother,” Ms Taylor said.

“(Why did) they had to arrest them inside the Hungry Jack’s? I have no clue why they did that.

“They weren’t thinking of other people who they were putting in harm.”

Ms Taylor said it was distressing to her family that the police “let their guns off”, firing the ‘less-lethal’ rounds at Ingram.

She said she had already lost older brothers, “and it was just frightening I could lose another brother”.

“Bean bag or not … they can still kill somebody with that amount of power,” she said.

“They could have killed somebody.

“I’d be frightened too if police officers came at me like that.”

Frank William Ingram's cousin Irene Taylor criticised the police operation which arrested the 30-year-old at Coolalinga Hungry Jack’s drive-through on January 5.

Ms Taylor said the family had raised concerns to police before the Thursday alleged incidents, but there was no reaction.

“When we asked them for help they didn’t even respond to us,” Ms Taylor said.

“And then all of a sudden they come out like this.”

Ingram was charged with assault, being armed in public, failing to meet storage requirements, recklessly endangering serious harm, damaging property, stealing, assaulting a police officer, while possessing a controlled weapon, fireworks, and ammunition.

A 30-year-old man was allegedly in possession of a crossbow and shotgun when he was dramatically arrested by police at Coolalinga Hungry Jack's. Picture: NT Police

He also faces a range of driving charges including travelling in the open load space of a vehicle, unlawful use of a motor vehicle, speeding, dangerous driving, and not stopping after a crash.

Ingram was also charged with possessing a thing to administer drugs and drug driving.

Ingram will return to court on March 1 for a preliminary examination mention.

A court date has not yet been confirmed by the court for his co-accused.

Originally published as Frank Ingram faces court following Coolalinga Hungry Jack’s arrest