Geelong’s police were kept busy on the weekend and Cup day following a seven-hour standoff with a Bell Park man on top of a road policing operation.
Officers attended an address at Bell Park’s McClelland Street at about 4.30pm on 4 November after calls of an alleged assault on a woman at the property.
A Victoria Police spokesperson said the 51-year-old man, Peter Banzic, had been charged with false imprisonment, unlawful assault and contravening a court order.
“A man barricaded himself in the property and refused to comply with police directions,” they said.
“Officers negotiated with the man, and he was taken into custody about 11.30pm.”
Mr Banzic was remanded and appeared at Geelong Magistrates Court on Thursday 6 November.
Across Greater Geelong, police detected 158 speeding offences over five days during Operation Furlong, targeting high-risk driving behaviour during the Melbourne Cup weekend.
Disqualified drivers were the second highest offence recorded in Geelong, with 22 offences, followed by unregistered vehicles (19), drink drivers (12), and disobeying signs or signals (nine).
There were also seven drug drivers, seven unlicensed drivers, five impoundments, three seatbelt, three mobile phone and one cyclist offences recorded during the operation.
In the Surf Coast police area, there were 70 speeding offences, five unregistered vehicles, four cases of disobeying signs or signals, and two impoundments recorded.
The operation also detected four drink drivers, three unlicensed drivers, two disqualified drivers, and one drug driver across the region.
Road Policing Assistant Commissioner Glenn Weir said that more than 6600 offences were detected by Victoria Police across the state, with speeding accounting for 79 per cent (2900) of offences.
“Time and time again, we continue to detect far too many people disregarding the road rules and taking unnecessary risks on our roads,” he said.
“The message is simple; if you don’t speed, you won’t be fined, and we make no apologies for penalising people who take ridiculous risks on our roads.
“So much of this year’s road trauma could have been avoided if motorists took more care and attention on the roads and obeyed the rules as they exist to keep all road users safe.
“Coming into the end of the year, motorists can expect to see ongoing enforcement across the state’s roads, including some major blitzes targeting impaired drivers.”
The statewide operation ran from 31 October to 4 November with a particular focus on speeding and impaired drivers, with police continuing to conduct road policing enforcement in high-risk areas.
