A man has been charged after a car allegedly crashed into a school bus while trying to evade police before driving at officers in Newtown.
Police spotted a Kia Optima, which was allegedly stolen in New South Wales, near the Princes Highway and Roebuck Street intersection at about 3.40pm on 29 January.
With Air Wing monitoring from above, police units on the ground attempted to intercept the vehicle before the Kia allegedly attempted to flee the scene and reversed into a school bus.
The Kia allegedly then drove at police, which resulted in one officer discharging their firearm, before the vehicle collided with another car.
The two occupants fled on foot before being arrested nearby and transported to hospital under police guard.
The 37-year-old man of no fixed address sustained a non-life-threatening gunshot wound to the arm, while the 43-year-old New South Wales woman had minor injuries.
Detectives charged the male driver with bringing stolen goods into Victoria, theft of a motor vehicle, criminal damage, dangerous driving manner, aggravated intentional exposure of an emergency worker to risk by driving and two counts of conduct endangering serious injury.
The female passenger was also charged with handling of stolen goods.
The man was remanded in custody to appear at Geelong Magistrates’ Court on 2 February, while the woman was bailed to appear at the Geelong court on 31 March.
The occupants of the bus were not injured, and the female driver of the civilian vehicle that the Kia collided with was taken to hospital with minor injuries.
Investigations into the incident will continue with Professional Standards Command oversight, which is a standard practice when a police firearm is discharged.
Anyone with information on the incident is urged to contact Crime Stoppers at crimestoppersvic.com.au or on 1800 333 000.
