Armed fugitive’s crime spree
A desperate hunt for an armed man is ongoing after he was allegedly involved in a kidnapping, an armed robbery and a shooting, which left two cops in hospital.
Just after 12pm on Monday, police officers attended a property in Katandra West, near the Victoria and NSW border, seeking to arrest Stanley Turvey over an unknown matter.
After officers arrived at the home, Mr Turvey allegedly appeared topless with a firearm.
“Turvey was challenged by police to drop the weapon when he fired a shot into the air before fleeing the scene in a vehicle,” Victoria Police said in a statement.
Mr Turvey later stopped at a “random residence” in Youanmite, about 20km northeast of Katandra West.
At the home in Youanmite, Mr Turvey forced a man at gunpoint to drive him across the border to Finley in NSW before letting him go unharmed, police say.
Then on Tuesday morning at about 10am, Mr Turvey allegedly carried out an armed assault on a woman in Yarrawonga, back over the border in Victoria, before stealing her white Toyota HiLux.
Mr Turvey’s current whereabouts are unknown but police believe he is travelling in the stolen vehicle, registration 1RA-8AN.
The wild scenes on the border have already left two police officers in hospital.
During their pursuit of Mr Turvey after the attempted arrest on Monday, two officers “lost control” of their car and rolled on Creighton Rd in Katandra West, with both officers suffering minor injuries.
They were both taken to hospital for observation and have since been released, Victoria Police said in a statement.
Police are now appealing for public assistance in locating Mr Turvey, who has a distinctive face tattoo of a grenade on his left cheek.
Mr Turvey frequently boasts on social media about his affiliation with the Finks Outlaw Motorcycle Crime Gang, according to a report in the Herald Sun.
Police have issued warrants for his arrest on two previous occasions, in 2017 and 2018.
While it is hoped someone recognises him and can provide information as to his whereabouts, police have urged members of the public not to approach Mr Turvey but to dial triple-0 immediately.
Police have also made a plea to Mr Turvey to hand himself in.
Anyone with information that may be able to assist police to find Mr Turvey should contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
