Renewed fears for Cousins welfare
Fears are growing for the welfare of Ben Cousins, who was yesterday detained by police for the third time in a fortnight after allegedly leading officers on a bizarre chase in Perth's southern suburbs.
The 36-year-old, who has battled a methamphetamine addiction, was taken to Armadale Hospital amid concerns for his mental state after he was coaxed off the roof of a two-storey Canning Vale home where he had allegedly climbed after running from police yesterday morning.
His former West Coast Eagles teammate Glen Jakovich posted on Twitter: "So sad to see Ben's current situation, he needs serious help and needs to get out of this country. Feel for his family."
Security vision from a Sikh temple captures the moment Mr Cousins runs away from officers who were speaking to him after reports he was allegedly seen driving erratically outside the temple on Shreeve Road.
Sikh Temple head priest Jasvinder Singh said the driver had stopped his gold-coloured Nissan hatchback in the middle of the road and crossed to the wrong side.
He had earlier been at the temple taking photographs and making a call on his mobile phone.
Mr Singh said he had tried unsuccessfully to talk to the driver before he swerved out of the temple carpark.
"Two cars almost hit his car," Mr Singh said. "I called to police immediately and told police he's interrupting traffic and (there) may be an accident," he said.
When police arrived they spoke to Mr Cousins for several minutes before he fled, the officers in pursuit.
Nearby residents reported seeing Mr Cousins run past them, sweating and carrying a bag.
One resident, Kim, said Mr Cousins asked her for a glass of water and a phone after stopping at her house as she was about to wash her car on the verge.
When he started moving towards her car, which had the keys in the ignition, and she questioned what he was doing, he ran away.
Police are investigating reports Mr Cousins climbed fences at several properties, before ending up on the roof of the Fimister Parkway home. Witnesses said he was pacing on the roof and shouting into the backyard. Mr Cousins eventually came down and police detained him.
Travis Ward said he had been about to leave for work when he saw police cars in the street, officers on a roof and other officers jumping nearby fences.
He could hear someone in the back of a police van "yelling and screaming and carrying on".
"He's obviously not well," Mr Ward said.
Just over a week ago, Mr Cousins was detained after he was allegedly found inside the barracks of the Special Air Service Regiment in Swanbourne.
No charges have been laid over that incident, which came three days after he was charged for allegedly leading police on a low-speed chase from Bicton to Mosman Park.
