Queensland Police have charged an 18-year-old Beaconsfield man following investigations into the theft of two vehicles, the alleged assault of a 77-year-old man and the death of a cat last Thursday.
Emergency services were called to reports of a traffic crash at around 11:35am on 5 November involving a stolen Toyota Kluger on the Bruce Highway near Saint Lawrence North Road.
“It will be alleged that following the crash, the driver of the Kluger fled the vehicle, assaulted a 77-year-old man and stole a nearby Toyota Hilux, which had stopped to render assistance,” Queensland Police said in a statement.
“Officers tracked the Hilux for a period of time, before a tyre deflation device was successfully deployed on the Bruce Highway around 12:25pm.
“The Hilux continued for a short period, before the driver fled the vehicle and stole a nearby Nissan X-Trail, which contained a cat, and left the scene.”
Police located the burnt out Nissan at Mackay Yakapari Road in Habana at around 2.45pm. The cat was located deceased within the vehicle.
Following enquires, an 18-year-old Beaconsfield man was located at a Canecutters Drive, Ooralea address on Friday and taken into custody.
He has been charged with several serious offences, including one count each of assault, arson, animal cruelty robbery and attempted robbery, two counts each of stealing a vehicle and dangerous operation of a vehicle. He was also charged with three counts of stealing.
He has been remanded in custody and is due to reappear before Mackay Magistrates Court tomorrow.
