A man has been charged following a pursuit spanning 170km from Yass Valley to Wagga Wagga.
About 6.30pm (Sunday 27 November 2022), a man entered a grocery store on East Street at Murrumbateman and allegedly stole a case of beer before leaving in a Mercedes C180 Coupe.
Police were notified, and a short time later, officers attached to The Hume Highway Patrol observed the vehicle travelling south on the Hume Highway, Yass.
Officers signalled for the driver to stop; however, he failed to do so and initiated a pursuit that lasted around 170km.
The vehicle was stopped on Docker Street at Wagga after the man allegedly failed to pay for fuel at a nearby service station, and the driver was arrested.
The 55-year-old man allegedly returned a positive roadside breath test.
He was taken to Wagga Wagga Police Station, where he was subject to a secondary breath analysis reading, allegedly returning a reading of 0.040.
He was charged with eight offences:
- Shoplifting,
- Police pursuit – not stop – drive recklessly,
- Not stop vehicle when directed to do so,
- Negligent driving (no death or grievous bodily harm),
- Class A motor vehicle exceed speed,
- Driver consume alcohol while driving,
- Dishonestly obtain property by deception, and
- Licence expired less than 2 years before – first offence.
The man was refused bail to appear in Wagga Wagga Local Court.
