Alleged Sarina kidnapping: Resident recounts police pursuit on quiet suburban streets

A small-town resident says a police search for a car connected to an alleged deprivation of liberty incident across Mackay and Sarina was ‘like a movie’ as she and her neighbours tried to help.

A “terrifying” ordeal had Sarina residents in lockdown as reports of armed kidnappers were on the loose in their backyards.

Two people were arrested on Sarina Beach Rd in the early hours of Sunday morning after a 14-year-old boy was allegedly forced at knifepoint into a car before a three-hour police pursuit.

Sarina resident Debbie Bell said a low-flying helicopter woke her and plunged her house into chaos.

“It was really scary, the helicopter was really loud and all the dogs in the neighbourhood were going crazy,” she said.

“The helicopter was just going around in circles in this area and we saw a few flashing siren lights so we thought there was something serious going on.”

Debbie Bell said her community jumped in to help police after alleged kidnappers were arrested in Sarina on February 13, 2022. Picture: Matthew Forrest

Mrs Bell turned to social media to get a grasp of what was happening in her area, with a community Facebook page alerting her to the unfolding incident.

She said she began communicating with other concerned neighbours in the area to understand how she should react.

“I wasn’t sure if we should have all the lights on, just in case they were out in someone’s backyard or hiding on a patio, the lights might make it easier for police,” Mrs Bell said.

“The police were right next door for a bit, our neighbour had his car lights pointing down a side street to light it up for them, but they said to turn our lights off.

Reef Drive after alleged kidnappers were arrested in Sarina on February 13, 2022. Picture: Matthew Forrest

“Some neighbours up the road said they thought they saw them run through their back yard, and another guy said they tried to break into their house to hide.

“You ask yourself what you should do, whether you lock yourselves in or take off.”

The CQ Rescue helicopter continued to search the area for about 90 minutes before the car was stopped and two people taken into custody on Sarina Beach Rd.

Mackay Detective Inspector Tom Armitt said the pair had since been released without charge after investigations found they were not connected to the vehicle at the time.

Mrs Bell said the chopper was “really low”.

“It would’ve been about 50 to 100 metres off the ground, so it was really low,” she said.

Two people were arrested in Sarina after allegedly kidnapping a 14-year-old boy February 13, 2022. Picture: Matthew Forrest

“It was very loud, it was like a movie when we woke up, my husband said he thought someone was landing their helicopter in a field nearby.

“It was a real reality check to see a helicopter flying so low having never seen a helicopter around this area before, it rings the alarm bells.

“Something really serious is going on, and puts a real fear into you because it doesn’t really happen to you out here.”

Originally published as Alleged Sarina kidnapping: Resident recounts police pursuit on quiet suburban streets