Getaway cars crush cop's leg, police hunt drivers
A police officer had his leg crushed between two getaway cars after trying to stop a robbery at a southeast Queensland business.
Sergeant Mal Scott was responding to reports of a robbery at a Mitre-10 store at Cooroy, in the Sunshine Coast hinterland about 4am on Monday.
When he arrived, he caught the thieves in the act and wrestled with one of them, but was struck and pinned against another car by a vehicle driven by one of the others.
Sergeant Mal Scott and his daughter.
Superintendent Darryl Johnson says Sgt Scott received non-life-threatening injuries and was rushed to Nambour hospital for treatment.
He was later released on Monday afternoon.
"He's in pretty good spirits," Supt Johnson told reporters in Noosa Heads.
He said the local officer-in-charge is a well-known local figure who was responding to a call to him personally by a member of the public.
"The actions of the officer were very courageous," Supt Johnson said.
"He was alone, and that's the nature of country policing on occasion is that you attend these incidents by yourself."
Police are now investigating if the theft was linked to a string of break-and-enters across the Sunshine Coast region in recent weeks.
"A number of these incidences where vehicles were used, and we're assuming they were stolen, have been linked to a number of related crimes such as petrol driver-offs, and we've seen a common thread across the Sunshine Coast and southeast Queensland over recent times," Supt Johnson said.
Sunshine Coast detectives want to hear from anyone who may have seen two white-coloured Isuzu utilities in the Cooroy township.
"Anyone who may have sighted the vehicles, or has any information which can assist police with their investigations is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or Noosa detectives on 5440 8167," Queensland police said in a statement.
