Highway bandits halted at gunpoint

By Jo Kennett

A MAN and two teenage boys were arrested at gunpoint following a cross-border pursuit on Thursday, February 9, with one of the trio taunting police and live streaming the incident on social media.

A Queensland Police helicopter (Polair) had been tracking a stolen black Mercedes SUV along the M1 following reports of a break-in attempt at Cleveland around 9.30am on Thursday morning.

Polair followed the vehicle until it crossed the border where New South Wales Police took over.

Tweed Police said at about 12.20pm, NSW officers commenced a pursuit of the car after it crossed the border from Queensland and allegedly failed to stop when directed to by police.

Multiple police cars were involved in the chase, with one of the teenage occupants of the car sitting on top of the sunroof videoing the police behind them and live streaming it on Facebook.

Road spikes were deployed at the Cudgen Road Tunnel, near Tweed Valley Way, which slowed the vehicle down, before it stopped on the M1 Motorway at Cudgera Creek.

Three males from Queensland aged 28, 17 and 16, were arrested at the scene at around 1pm and several items were seized from the vehicle including two swords, a knife, tomahawk, cannabis, and cash.

Some people took to social media saying the teen sitting on the sun roof had a firearm, however, he was just holding up his phone and also reportedly giving passing drivers the middle finger.

The chase made international tabloid news when it was dubbed Australia’s slowest car chase, but a local police boss was quick to defend the operation.

Far North Coast Highway Patrol Traffic Management Inspector Dave Vandergriend said the older male was a passenger and the two teenagers were in the front of the vehicle.

“I’ve seen footage and spoken to involved officers and I think it was a well coordinated operation that had an effective and safe result for all,” Insp Vandergriend told The Weekly.

“Polair tracked the stolen vehicle into NSW where it was safely and effectively pursued and incapacitated with the deployment of road spikes until the subsequent ‘high risk’ vehicle was stopped at gunpoint.

“They were wanted for serious crimes with weapons. They were throwing items out the window of the car at police when they were being pursued including a tomahawk, glass jars, clothing and registration plates.

“The fact they had guns pointed at them probably discouraged them from trying to flee.”

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