IT was all hands on deck for Wyndham police last month during a 120-hour manhunt to catch a violent parole violator on a meth-fuelled crime spree.
The 26-year-old Werribee man, who police said had an expensive ice habit, was released in April after 18 months in prison.
Police alleged the man had since committed offences across Wyndham ranging from robberies to aggravated burglaries and thefts of motor vehicles.
Some of the offences allegedly involved knives and firearms.
Detective Sergeant Matt Kershaw said police deployed “all the resources we possibly could”, including the air wing, canine division, special operations group and the entire Wyndham crime investigation unit.
“The whole office was involved and there were at least 10 detectives working 20-hour days, working around the clock to locate and apprehend him,” he said.
Sergeant Kershaw said there was a wild chase every time police tried to arrest or intercept the man.
He was arrested about 9.15pm on June 29 after driving on the wrong side of Tarneit Road without headlights and ramming into a police car head-on.
“His offending was escalating, he was severely addicted to ice and was a real risk to the community,” Sergeant Kershaw said.
He said the man had mainly been threatening and stealing from known criminal associates.
“He was a bloke who carried weapons and we’re very lucky to have him in custody,” he said.
Police said the man had been sent back to jail and would face 80 charges at a later date.
