Four teenagers have been arrested after an alleged police pursuit through Moree ended with a stolen SUV crashing into a stationary police vehicle and later a tree.
New England Police District officers patrolling Edward Street sighted the SUV about 2am on Friday, 28 August, and attempted to stop it. When the driver allegedly failed to stop, a pursuit began.
Police allege a rear-seat passenger leaned out of the vehicle and filmed pursuing officers as the pursuit continued along Edward Street. The pursuit was terminated on Frome Street, with police continuing to monitor the SUV using a PolAir remote drone.
The vehicle briefly stopped on Jones Street, where two passengers, a 15-year-old girl and a 15-year-old boy, got out and were arrested. The SUV then allegedly continued on Boston Street, where it drove onto the incorrect side of the road and crashed into a stationary marked police vehicle before fleeing the scene. No officers were injured.
About 4am, the SUV was found abandoned on Chester Street after crashing into a tree. Following inquiries, police attended an address on Chester Street and arrested a 19-year-old man and a 14-year-old boy.
All four teenagers were taken to Moree Police Station. Police will allege the 14-year-old boy was driving the SUV, and he was charged with driving a conveyance taken without the owner’s consent, failing to stop during a police pursuit and driving dangerously, disguising his face with intent to commit an indictable offence, using an offensive weapon to prevent lawful detention, and driving recklessly or at a dangerous speed. He was refused bail to appear before a children’s court.
The 19-year-old man was charged with being carried in a conveyance without the owner’s consent, and issued a court attendance notice to appear before Moree Local Court on Friday, 18 September. The 15-year-old girl and boy were dealt with under the Young Offenders Act.
Police will allege in court that the SUV was stolen during a break and enter at a business on Bullus Drive, Moree, earlier the same day.
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