Queensland Police detectives have charged a second man over his alleged involvement in the shooting of a police officer during a bank robbery in Browns Plains in 1999.
The 54-year-old Woodford man has been charged with 13 offences including two counts of armed robbery, two counts of acts intended to cause grievous bodily harm or other malicious acts, one count of unlawful use of a motor vehicle and commit indictable offence, one count of unlawful entry of a motor vehicle with personal violence and seven counts of deprivation of liberty.
The man is expected to appear in Brisbane Magistrates Court May 8.
Police will allege that on 24 March 1999, two men forced entry to a bank in Browns Plains before holding staff and customers at gunpoint.
“Two responding police officers attended the scene and within moments, one of the officers, was allegedly shot by an offender,” Queensland Police said in a statement.
“Senior Constable Neil Scutts sustained a serious gunshot wound to his groin, missing major arteries by millimetres. His firearm, a Sturm Ruger .357 six-shot revolver was allegedly stolen and is yet to be recovered.
“The offenders fled on foot allegedly taking two staff members as hostages before stealing a vehicle at gunpoint.”
Police say that at the time of the incident the offenders were wearing off-white plastic masks, surgical style gloves and were seen to be carrying two-way radios.
On 30 November 2020, the Queensland Police Service (QPS) launched a fresh public appeal for information with a $500,000 reward on offer for anyone who could provide information leading to the arrest of a person involved.
Following an extensive investigation, detectives from the Crime and Intelligence Command and Logan Criminal Investigation Branch arrested a then 49-year-old Brisbane man on 22 December 2020. He was charged with 13 offences including two counts of attempted murder, three counts of robbery with actual violence whilst armed, one count of unlawful use of a motor vehicle and seven counts of deprivation of liberty.
“Detectives continue to investigate the matter and would like to re-issue their appeal for anyone with information about the incident to come forward,” Queensland Police said.
The $500,000 reward for information leading the arrest of a person/s responsible remains on offer.
Detective Superintendent Brendan Smith said police had received valuable information from the public that helped advance this investigation.
“While yesterday’s arrest is significant, we are continuing to appeal to people who may have information about the shooting and who may have been reluctant to come forward earlier to do so now,” Detective Superintendent Smith said.
