ACT Police have charged a 16-year-old boy with multiple offences after he and two other teenagers allegedly drove a stolen car towards police and later performed burnouts outside two schools.
At about 1:10pm on Friday August 9, police observed a stolen white BMW hatchback driving dangerously on Mugga Lane.
While the BMW pulled over after police activated their emergency lights and sirens, it took off when officers came to a halt behind it, allegedly accelerating at speed and crossing to the wrong side of the road.
Police soon received reports that the BMW was performing burnouts and driving dangerously near Calwell High School.
It was found to be doing so on the sports oval close to students, with its driver allegedly holding what police believed to be a pistol.
At 1:25pm, the BMW was seen driving through the neighbouring suburb of Theodore, with officers’ attempts to deploy a tyre deflation device proving unsuccessful after the driver rammed the car into a police vehicle.
After stopping the BMW, two of the three occupants were arrested following a foot pursuit, though the remaining male was seen running through the school grounds of St Francis of Assisi Primary School, resulting in both schools being placed into lockdown.
Though the 16-year-old couldn’t be located on Friday, reports of two stolen vehicles including a Volkswagen T-Roc were received on Sunday morning, with police observing the SUV “travelling at excessive speeds throughout the Tuggeranong district”.
The Volkswagen was later located near a Chisholm home, with the 16-year-old subsequently surrendering himself to police following a short negotiation.
Charges against him include failing to stop for police, dangerous driving, driving while unlicensed, driving a motor vehicle at police, and breaching a good behaviour order.
He was due to face the ACT Children’s Court yesterday, though his punishment has not yet been announced.
