A Wyndham police car was repeatedly rammed during an attempted intercept at Pacific Werribee yesterday.
Police from the Wyndham Community Safety Team were patrolling the shopping centre when they spotted three people in a car, one of whom was wanted on nine outstanding warrants for a number of thefts around the Melbourne metropolitan area.
As police approached the vehicle, the driver reversed the car into a stationary police car a number of times before speeding out of the shopping centre car park, and was reportedly driving through Wyndham in a dangerous manner.
Police located the vehicle in Altona Meadows a short time later and its two passengers were arrested on site. The police canine unit detected the driver of the car hiding in a nearby yard after a short search.
The driver, a 42-year-old Laverton man, was charged with 15 offences including conduct endangering life, robbery, a number of thefts and failing to appear on bail.
A 40-year-old Hoppers Crossing man was charged with 16 offences including robbery, a number of thefts and committing indictable offences whilst on bail. The two men were remanded in custody.
Police also charged a 25-year-old Laverton woman with theft and a fourth person, a 62-year-old woman arrested at the scene, with drug trafficking.
Today, state police minister Lisa Neville introduced a bill into parliament that would result in jail time of up to 20 years for offenders who use cars and other motor vehicles to put police and emergency services workers at risk of harm.
Ms Neville said the strong laws would send a clear message that endangering the lives of police and other emergency workers would not be tolerated.
