May 14, 2018
A teenage driver who allegedly sped away from police on multiple occasions around the Kingaroy and Nanango areas has been arrested after help from local residents.
Officer-in-charge of Kingaroy Police, Senior Sergeant David Tierney said a 19-year-old Nanango man had been taken into custody.
“On May 8, police tried to intercept a Holden Commodore on the Bunya Highway,” Snr Sgt Tierney said.
“Police will allege the vehicle accelerated heavily away from them reaching speeds of 150km/h.”
Police discontinued the attempted intercept due to the risk to the public.
Further investigations revealed the vehicle had refueled at a local service station at 12:25am, allowing police to identify the driver from CCTV footage.
“At 7:55pm, police in Nanango observed the vehicle and again had to discontinue an attempted intercept due to the speed at which the offender sped away,” Snr Sgt Tierney said.
“At 9.05pm on May 11, police received information that the vehicle was travelling between Nanango and Kingaroy.
“Police will allege they again attempted to intercept the vehicle as it approached Kingaroy but the vehicle accelerated away and began overtaking vehicles in a dangerous manner, forcing them to discontinue the pursuit.
“A description of the vehicle was relayed to local businesses.
“At 12:30am on May 12, Kingaroy police were advised by a local service station that the vehicle had attended there.
“The quick-thinking console operator shut off the pumps, preventing the alleged offender from refuelling his vehicle.
“At 2:20am, Kingaroy police were notified by a local taxi driver that the vehicle of interest was heading out of Kingaroy on the D’Aguilar Highway.
“Police located the vehicle and will allege the driver rapidly accelerated away to avoid interception, forcing police to again discontinue the attempted intercept.”
Police were later advised that the suspect was hiding at a Wilson Drive address at Nanango.
“After a 20-minute search of the property, police located and arrested the alleged offender,” Snr Sgt Tierney said.
A 19-year-old Nanango man was due to appear in Kingaroy Magistrates Court on Monday to face charges of failing to stop (evade), disqualified driving and wilful damage to police property.
An application will also be made for the forfeiture of his vehicle.
Investigations are continuing into other related offences.
“Police in both Kingaroy and Nanango wish to thank those members of the public who provided assistance … before someone was seriously hurt,” Snr Sgt Tierney said.
