On-off police chase covers 300km
A man who allegedly led police on a chase in a stolen utility in the Kimberley, travelling 300km before being stopped, has been charged with a string of traffic offences.
The man allegedly evaded police for almost eight hours in a stolen utility before he was arrested at the Sandfire Roadhouse, near Broome, at about 7.15pm last night.
The Toyota Hilux had allegedly been stolen from a resort at Cable Beach at about 11.20am yesterday.
Police first chased the utility at a housing estate at about 1.45pm and on several other occasions during the afternoon. Each time the pursuit was aborted for safety reasons.
The man allegedly drove over an embankment, around a nearby school and at speeds up to 170km/h as he allegedly tried to avoid police.
At one point, tools from the utility spilled onto the road as the man allegedly drove erratically around Sanderling Drive in Broome.
Police eventually stopped the vehicle at a road block set up near the Sandfire Roadhouse 320km from Broome and the driver was arrested eight hours after the utility was reported stolen.
A 24-year-old Cable Beach man was refused bail and will appear in court today charged with stealing a motor vehicle and driving recklessly, two counts of reckless driving, four counts of failing to stop for police, three counts of having no authority to drive and three counts of stealing.
