A 27-year-old Wandal man is in police custody following a string of offences allegedly committed between Rockhampton and Stanwell, including the brutal assault of a 73-year-old man yesterday.
Police will allege that at around 9.40am on Tuesday, a man trespassed at a Meikleville Hill home where he threatened the resident with a knife, before walking to a neighbouring property where he forced a 44-year-old man in a 4WD wagon out of his vehicle and drove away.
“At around 10 am police allegedly intercepted the 4WD, which pulled over on Rockhampton Yeppoon Road, Ironpot; but it was driven away at speed, narrowly missing the stationary police car and an officer on foot,” Queensland Police said in a statement this afternoon.
Police will allege the 4WD was driven dangerously through Parkhurst and Park Avenue, then to Gracemere, where it collided with the rear of a station wagon on Knight Street at about 11.30am.
“At about 11.50 the man allegedly drove onto a work site on the Capricorn Highway, causing workers to take evasive action, before he abandoned the 4WD and stole a Ford ute,” QPS said.
“He is alleged to have driven to a service station on Anakie Sapphire Road, Sapphire and attempted to refuel, without success.”
Police allege he then approached an address on the Capricorn Highway, Emerald and threatened a 37-year-old woman, stealing her red hatchback around 1.50pm which was then found in Vine Tree Road, Anakie Siding a short time later.
“At around 2pm he allegedly stole an Isuzu wagon from Vine Tree Road which was later observed by police being driven dangerously on the Capricorn Highway towards Emerald. The Isuzu evaded interception through a series of dangerous manoeuvres causing police and other road users to swerve off-road.”
“Further down the Highway the 27-year-old stopped and allegedly assaulted a 73-year-old man, stealing his Ford SUV and driving toward Beezley Street, Emerald where he collided with a Hyundai hatchback and continued driving.”
The SUV was driven toward the outskirts of Emerald where police successfully deployed road spikes to stop the vehicle.
But the man’s alleged crime spree continued on foot.
“The man fled the damaged car before assaulting a 52-year-old man in an Isuzu ute nearby. Police intervened and the man fled on foot,” QPS said.
“He then approached a 61-year-old woman’s Audi wagon, forcing his way into the vehicle and making her drive a short way down the Capricorn Highway before letting her and her passengers (men aged 29 and 34) out of the car.
“The man allegedly drove the Audi to Bluff, were he pulled directly into the path of a Toyota ute, causing it to stop on the Capricorn Highway. He then forced the 22-year-old driver out of the ute and drove it east toward Dingo.
“Just before 6.30pm police successfully deployed another tyre deflation device on the Capricorn Highway near Stanwell. The ute came to a stop and then allegedly reversed into the front of a police vehicle. The man was then taken into custody.”
He is currently assisting police with enquiries. Police urge any witnesses and anyone with relevant dash-cam footage to contact police.
