‘Across from the BP with a knife’: Purple Holden helps man flee tasers
Video has emerged of two police officers narrowly missing being hit by a smashed up purple Holden while they were trying to arrest a shirtless man – who later fled in the car.
Townsville
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A smashed up purple Holden Commodore has been causing chaos across Townsville, helping a shirtless man flee two taser-wielding police officers
Richard Lizzarioni took video of a wild police confrontation on Thursday, May 8, involving a shirtless man and two police officers.
Mr Lizzarioni said the shirtless man was “running across from the BP with a knife”, leading to police officers following him with their tasers drawn.
Right when the man seemed pinned on the dead-end Vesuvius St, near Dalrymple Hotel, the purple Holden sped down the road, causing police to step back, and the shirtless man jumped in and fled the scene in the car.
The confrontation happened around 1.50pm.
On Friday morning, May 9, a picture of the smashed up purple Holden online, describing it as “either stolen” or being driven by “absolute crackheads”.
The car was travelling on the Bruce Hwy between Ayr and Townsville around 9am.
‘Reported to police, stay safe on the road,” Taylor Johnson said.
In a Townsville crime alerts group, the purple Holden Commodore was posted and described as stolen from Deeragun.
“Car has been running amok in Home Hill and Ayr the past few days and along the highway,” the poster, Sam Costa, said on Friday, May 9.
Its original rego was revealed to be 536-KO5
Queensland Police said a man has been charged over an incident involving the stolen vehicle.
“It will be alleged, a 31-year-old Ayr man stole a purple Holden Commodore sedan from Deeragun address about 6pm, Thursday May 8,” a police spokesperson said.
“Following investigations the man was arrested today (May 9) in Hermit Park”.
The 31-year-old has been charged with 10 offences including unlawful use of a motor vehicle, dangerous operation of a vehicle, using vehicle for which a number plate required, and driving a motor vehicle without a licence.
He is expected to appear in Townsville Magistrates Court on Saturday, May 1-.
A second person involved, an 18-year-old Home Hill man, is in police custody.
Investigations are ongoing.
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Originally published as ‘Across from the BP with a knife’: Purple Holden helps man flee tasers
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