POLICE put their contentious ‘no-pursuit’ policy on hold early Wednesday morning to chase down a man alleged to have carjacked a Frankston shift worker.
The man, 22, was arrested and later remanded to appear at Melbourne Magistrates Court on 20 June after he allegedly used a handgun to threaten the shift worker in Ashley Av, Frankston, and steal his Hyundai sedan, 12.45am.
Somerville Highway Patrol police spotted the stolen car nearby and chased it for 25 minutes through Carrum Downs and Dandenong before the alleged gunman pulled into a driveway, tried to flee, and was arrested.
The Endeavour Hills man may have had an accomplice in a black Holden Commodore who fled the theft scene minutes earlier.
The handgun has not been found.
A senior detective last week said police always had the ability to pursue – in the right circumstances. He said risk assessments took in the time of day, road conditions, traffic, driver behaviour and the possible effects on other road users.
“It’s not a no-pursuit policy,” he said. “It’s just that all the planets have to align before a pursuit is initiated.”