A driver who allegedly rammed a police vehicle before a firearm and drugs were located in his car was one of more than a dozen people arrested during a recent nightly operation in Werribee.
Officers were patrolling the Tarneit area as part of Operation Shows when they came across three vehicles in a carpark about 10.50pm on Friday 31 October.
As police approached one of the vehicles, the driver allegedly reversed into the police car and took off, narrowly missing an officer.
Air Wing followed the vehicle and observed a passenger allegedly jump out on Inverell Parkway while the car was travelling at speed. Police arrested a 28-year-old man shortly after.
The vehicle continued on to Kalorama Street where the driver allegedly pulled over and attempted to hide behind a property fence.
With Air Wing assistance, police on ground were guided to the man’s location and arrested him without incident.
A subsequent search of the vehicle located a firearm, ammunition, more than $54,000 in cash, as well as quantities of cocaine and MDMA, police said.
The man, aged 21 from Essendon, was charged with aggravated intentional exposure of police officer to risk by driving, intentional exposure of police officer to risk by driving, reckless conduct endangering serious injury, possessing a general category handgun, possessing ammunition without licence, trafficking cocaine, trafficking ecstasy and driving while disqualified.
He was remanded to appear before Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on 27 January .
A further 13 people were arrested during the two-night operation, with police intercepting more than 140 vehicles and conducting 57 breath tests.
Nine vehicles were impounded during the operation, and police said four stolen vehicles were recovered.
Eleven drivers were issued with penalty notices for traffic offences such as driving while unregistered, driving with false plates and speeding.
The operation will continue to run regularly in Wyndham .
Wyndham Crime Investigation Unit Detective Senior Sergeant Matt Lewis said Operation Shows was important as it stopped offenders in their tracks.
“These arrests show that while you might not always see us, we are always there,” he said.
