A 29-year-old Kambah man who jumped into Lake Burley Griffin in the early hours of Monday 28 December to evade police faced the ACT Magistrates Court on Saturday 2 January charged with a number of offences, including drive at police.
About 12.25am on Monday 28 December 2020, police were alerted to a black Hyundai Tuscon in the area of Limestone Avenue, Ainslie. Checks on the vehicle revealed it to be stolen, and police attempted to affect a traffic stop on the vehicle.
Police followed the Hyundai to Hackett Place, Hackett where two women ran from the vehicle to a waiting silver Kia Sportage allegedly being driven by the 29-year-old man. Â
Police arrested the two women at the scene, and attempted to stop the Kia from leaving the area. About this time, police allege the man drove at police and failed to stop.
Police allege the Kia then travelled through the City and onto Parkes Way before coming to a stop on the Kings Avenue Bridge about 1.15am.
A man and woman fled the Kia, with the woman located and arrested by police a short time later. The man was followed by police before jumping into Lake Burley Griffin.
Extensive resources were deployed in and around the lake to locate the man, including AFP Maritime and the Toll SouthCare Rescue helicopter. ACT Fire & Rescue and the ACT Ambulance Service also attended.
Following a police investigation, which included DNA testing, a search warrant was executed at a residence in Kambah on Thursday 31 December 2020 where the man was arrested.
He faced a total of five charges – drive motor vehicle at police, fail to stop for police, drive while disqualified, theft, and obtain property by deception.
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