A 30-year-old man faces multiple charges following a dramatic police chase that culminated in his arrest at a shopping centre in Perth. The incident began just after midday when officers spotted an Audi driving erratically along Leach Highway in Melville. When the vehicle entered a car park in Myaree, police attempted to initiate a stop, but the driver allegedly sped away, prompting a pursuit.
The chase escalated, with the driver reportedly veering onto footpaths and driving on the wrong side of the road. Authorities eventually called off the chase for safety reasons. Shortly thereafter, the man was located at a shopping centre in Booragoon after abandoning his vehicle and discarding a duffel bag.
Subsequently, police discovered the duffel bag contained a sawn-off rifle, ammunition, a homemade taser, and a pocket knife. The man was taken into custody around 4:20 PM at a supermarket on South Street in Kardinya. Bodycam footage captured the man attempting to evade officers amid the busy shopping environment before he was apprehended.
He has been charged with several offences, including two counts of possession of a prohibited weapon, reckless driving to escape police pursuit, and possession of a prohibited drug (methylamphetamine). Following his court appearance at Fremantle Magistrates Court, he was remanded in custody and is scheduled to appear again on October 3.