Key Takeaways
- A 34-year-old man has been arrested after a two-day police hunt in Latrobe Valley
- The man was wanted for a series of crimes, including aggravated carjacking, ramming a police vehicle, and aggravated burglary
- A police officer was seriously injured during the arrest, with lower-body injuries
- The suspect crashed a stolen SUV into a residential perimeter wall, where he was arrested and taken to hospital
- The owner of the stolen SUV, Amy Smith, reported the theft after seeing her car being driven out of her parents’ driveway
Introduction to the Incident
The Latrobe Valley has been the scene of a dramatic two-day police hunt, which came to an end with the arrest of a 34-year-old man. The man was wanted for a series of serious crimes, including aggravated carjacking, ramming a police vehicle, and aggravated burglary. The Morwell Crime Investigation Unit had been investigating the crimes, which occurred over the past five days. The suspect’s actions led to a police officer being seriously injured and multiple police vehicles being rammed.
The Arrest and Aftermath
The suspect was finally captured when the allegedly stolen red SUV crashed through the garden wall of a home on Anzac Road in Trafalgar on Wednesday morning. The homeowner, Ted Dorling, 78, was not at home at the time of the crash, but his wife, who suffers from dementia, was asleep inside the house and was not woken by the incident. Mr. Dorling described the incident as "just another day" and stated that he would make an insurance claim for the damage to his property. The crashed car was towed away to be forensically tested.
The Police Pursuit
The police pursuit of the suspect began when they received a tip that the wanted man was driving a stolen vehicle in the town of Tyers. Police made two attempts to stop the driver, but both pursuits were called off due to his dangerous driving. The suspect then sped down the Princes Highway in Trafalgar, where local police, supported by uniformed officers, detectives, the Air Wing unit, and the dog squad attempted to intercept him. The suspect rammed a parked police car and hit a male officer, who was hospitalized with serious lower-body injuries. The driver then rammed two more unmarked police cars before crashing into a residential perimeter wall.
The Owner’s Account
The owner of the stolen SUV, Amy Smith, reported the theft after seeing her car being driven out of her parents’ driveway. She had been swimming with her children at the time and immediately called Triple Zero. Ms. Smith described the experience as "very frightening" and "overwhelming." She had left her keys in the car, as they were at a private and rural property. Locals updated her on the car’s location, and she was relieved to hear that police had made an arrest. Ms. Smith stated that she was unable to sleep knowing the man was still on the run but was glad that no one was seriously hurt.
Conclusion
The arrest of the 34-year-old man brings an end to a dramatic and dangerous series of events in the Latrobe Valley. The incident highlights the bravery and dedication of police officers, who put their lives at risk to protect the community. The suspect’s actions caused significant damage and put innocent lives at risk, and it is fortunate that no one was killed. The community can now breathe a sigh of relief, knowing that the suspect is in custody and will face justice for his crimes.
