Ricky Leigh Dunn, 28, of Burramine, appeared on video while in custody for a bail application at Shepparton Magistrates’ Court on Friday, February 21.
Mr Dunn was charged with car theft, motorcycle theft, trafficking in methamphetamines, trafficking in ecstasy, unlicenced driving and failing to stop when directed by police.
Police informant Senior Constable James Howarth said police allege Mr Dunn was driving a stolen car which sped away from police at up to 150 km/h on Goulburn Valley Hwy at Wunghnu on December 1 last year.
The following morning, at 8.30 am, police were called to do a welfare check on a man who was “unconscious behind the wheel” of a car in Lukies Rd, Naring,
When one of the police officers reached in and took the keys from the car, Mr Dunn woke up.
Sen Const Howarth then alleged Mr Dunn gave police his brother’s name and when questioned on it by police he “started walking towards the police car parked up the road”.
The court was told Mr Dunn allegedly got into the running police car and resisted the two police officers as they tried to remove him. When one officer allegedly “felt teeth through his jacket”, the officer let go and Mr Dunn drove away “while police members were hanging off the side of the vehicle”, Sen Const Howarth said.
Mr Dunn was seen half an hour later in Lukies Rd, travelling at a speed alleged to have been more than 200 km/h, Sen Const Howarth said.
The court was told multiple police and helicopters were used in a search which allegedly found the vehicle still running at the back of a Yarroweyah house.
Mr Dunn could not be located.
On December 6, Mr Dunn and a woman were allegedly spotted in a Mitsubishi Pajero at a house in Tobruk Rd, Naring.
Sen Const Howarth gave evidence that Mr Dunn drove off and his vehicle collided with a police car, before driving through paddocks and a steel gate in an attempt to evade police.
The chase reached speeds of between 50 km/h and 70 km/h as the Pajero had blown a tyre in the alleged collision with the police vehicle, Sen Const Howarth said.
The officer told the court once onto Katamatite-Nathalia Rd, a Holden Commodore allegedly driven by Mr Dunn’s brother came between police and the Pajero.
The pursuit was called off because it was too dangerous and Mr Dunn allegedly got into the other vehicle and drove off.
That car was allegedly found at Mr Dunn’s mother’s house later that day, Sen Const Howarth said.
The following day – December 7 – special operations police arrested Mr Dunn.
A search of a Tobruk Rd house allegedly found stolen products including a chainsaw, blower and jet ski.
Police prosecutor Acting Sergeant Brendan Tyrrell initially opposed bail, saying Mr Dunn was a flight risk and there were concerns he would go back to old habits of trafficking drugs if released from custody.
Mr Dunn’s barrister JJ Jassar argued that his client had secured a bed in live-in rehabilitation centre Odyssey House that could start on February 24 and this would reduce the risk of him being a risk to the community and a flight risk.
Mr Jassar also argued there was no identification that his client was driving the car at Wunghnu on December 1.
He also said when Mr Dunn allegedly took the police car, the police were “hitting him on the head with a baton and punching him” to get him out of the car.
He also alleged the police had their arms in the window trying to stop him and that his client did not drive at the officers.
Mr Dunn was granted bail and was released on bail on Monday, February 24, to allow him to go immediately to Odyssey House.
Conditions of the bail include that he lives at Odyssey House, not attend Moira Shire, not use illicit substances and not drive a car.
Mr Dunn will next appear in court on March 10.
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