Video shows financier Jim Byrnes arrested after vintage Chevrolet crashes into three cars
Video footage has captured the dramatic arrest of flamboyant financier “Big” Jim Byrnes following a multi-car crash at Bondi Beach that left his “beautiful Chevvy” severely damaged.
Video has emerged of the arrest of controversial businessman “Big” Jim Byrnes after his “beautiful Chevvy” allegedly drove into three parked cars, leading to him being charged at Bondi Beach.
The flamboyant financier, who was once an adviser to America’s Cup winning billionaire Alan Bond, was led into a police paddywagon in the footage captured by a resident after his vintage blue Chevrolet failed to negotiate a turn on Richard Rd, Bondi Beach, just after 6pm on November 7.
Byrnes’ classic car collided with a parked red Mazda CX5 and totalled a Vespa scooter before colliding with a white Volkswagen.
The force of the collision caused the Volkswagen to collide with a white Mitsubishi.
Two videos of the incident were sent to The Daily Telegraph, which showed the 65-year-old being arrested, placed in a paddy wagon before he was charged with assaulting a witness and refusing to provide a breath test to police.
The first video shows a large group of residents assembled on the street before panning to Byrne’s Chevvy, which had sustained significant damage from the collision.
Byrnes, who is wearing a light blue T-shirt and white pants, can be seen sitting on the grass with his hands cuffed behind his back as a police officer prepares to load him in the wagon.
The second video shows Byrnes being led to a paddy wagon by three police officers.
He attempts to walk off to the left before one of the officers pushes him towards the paddy wagon.
The footage shows that Byrnes appears to be off balance given that his arms are positioned behind his back and the officers are significantly shorter than him.
“And what a beautiful Chevvy,” the witness said.
Comment is being sought from Byrnes.
A NSW Police Spokeswoman said no serious injuries were reported from the incident.
Byrnes was charged with assaulting a 54-year-old man who tried to stop the 65-year-old financier when he allegedly attempted to leave the scene of the crash.
“The 65-year-old man allegedly refused to undergo mandatory testing and was arrested,” the spokeswoman said.
“He was taken to hospital for assessment before being taken to Surry Hills Police Station where he was charged with common assault and refusing or failing to submit to a breath test,” the spokeswoman said.
Byrnes has long been a well known fixture in Sydney’s Eastern Suburbs.
He found fame decades ago as the bankruptcy adviser to fallen billionaire Alan Bond.
Bond was part of the historic America’s Cup win in 1983 where he headed a syndicate that built the Australia II yacht.
It made history by being the first non US winner of the famous race for the first time in 132 years.
As Bond’s problems were playing out, Byrnes famously rocked up to court in a Rolls Royce.
Byrnes has had his own share of problems and once arrived at his own bankruptcy hearing in a Bentley.
In 2012, his Bellevue Hill mansion was shot up by gangsters.
Byrnes is listed to face Newtown Local Court tomorrow.
Originally published as Video shows financier Jim Byrnes arrested after vintage Chevrolet crashes into three cars
