A 30-year-old Hackett man will appear in court after evading police in a stolen vehicle and ramming two police cars early this morning.

Around 5am today, Tuesday 24 September, police observed a stolen grey Audi Q3 parked on the shoulder of the Barton Highway in Mitchell with its engine running. Officers deployed tyre deflation devices and approached the vehicle, finding the man asleep in the driver’s seat.

When officers attempted to arrest him, the man drove off towards Northbourne Avenue, crossing the median strip and entering oncoming traffic.

Police initiated a pursuit, following the Audi through Northbourne Avenue and into the CBD.

At approximately 5:45am, the man allegedly drove into a marked police vehicle at the intersection of Macarthur Avenue and Northbourne Avenue. He then rammed the vehicle again and reversed into a second police car that attempted to block his path.

The man was removed from the vehicle and searched, with officers discovering a crystalline substance, believed to be methamphetamine, on his person. A taser was used during the arrest to ensure compliance with police directions.

He will face the ACT Magistrates Court today, charged with multiple offences, including three counts of driving a vehicle at police, two counts of damaging a police vehicle, failing to stop for police, driving with a suspended licence, and taking a motor vehicle without consent.