North Queensland police have condemned "vigilante behaviour" after charging a "reckless" Townsville man who allegedly chased three teenagers in a stolen car until it crashed.
Key points:
- Police say the man was "actively" looking for stolen cars
- He allegedly chased the teens who then crashed a car into a power pole
- Four Townsville teenagers were killed in June when a stolen car crashed
Police said the 48-year-old man spotted the trio driving in the Townsville suburb of Gulliver on Saturday night and then chased the vehicle at high speed down the wrong side of the road.
The stolen car lost control and crashed into a power pole in the neighbouring suburb of Currajong.
Police alleged the man mounted the curb to corner the teenagers and chased them in his car when they fled through a nearby property.
He was arrested a short time later and charged with dangerous operation of a vehicle, possession of a weapon and driving an unregistered vehicle.
Police set up cordons, called in the dog squad and discovered a 13-year-old Cairns boy hiding under a house.
The teenager was charged with unlawful use of a motor vehicle, trespass and possession of dangerous drugs.
'Cause more danger'
Acting District Superintendent Sean Dugger said the pursuit could have easily ended in tragedy.
"Leave the policing to the police," he said.
"People will actually argue on the pretext that it's in the community's safety, when these types of actions actually cause more danger to the community."
Police have alleged both cars were driving well above the 60 kilometres per hour speed limit.
Superintendent Dugger said it was only by the "grace of God and good luck" that no-one was seriously injured in the incident.
Four teenagers were killed in June when a stolen car crashed into a Townsville traffic light pole.
"It doesn't take a great deal of imagination that we could be investigating coronial matters today," Superintendent Dugger said.
'Vigilante behaviour'
He said officers also uncovered a tyre iron in the man's car which police would allege had been intended for use against car thieves.
"We do understand the frustration of some members of the community with these sort of offences occurring within the Townsville district, but all I can say is police continually and successfully target these offenders.
"That does not excuse the 48-year-old man's actions or any type of this sort of vigilante behaviour.
"We won't be tolerating criminal activity by any person, [even if] their intentions are, in their mind, honourable."
The man has been bailed to appear in the Townsville Magistrates Court on December 2.
Police are still searching for the two other teenagers involved in the crash.
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2020-11-15 03:29:00Z
CBMiaWh0dHBzOi8vd3d3LmFiYy5uZXQuYXUvbmV3cy8yMDIwLTExLTE1L3Rvd25zdmlsbGUtbWFuLWNoYXJnZWQtb3Zlci1hbGxlZ2VkLXB1cnN1aXQtb2Ytc3RvbGVuLWNhci8xMjg4NTU0NtIBJ2h0dHBzOi8vYW1wLmFiYy5uZXQuYXUvYXJ0aWNsZS8xMjg4NTU0Ng
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