Man charged over ramming refuses to front court

(Rebecca Hosking) 216931_01

By Luke Voogt

A Winchelsea man charged over allegedly ramming two police cars at a North Geelong service station on Sunday night has refused to appear in court.

Police allege Oaklee Carney, 20, deliberately drove into the vehicles at the APCO service station on Thompson Road about 10.30pm.

Carney was filling up a car when a registration check indicated false plates.

“Police pulled their vehicles to the front and rear of the Holden sedan and asked the driver to stop so they could speak with him,” a Victoria Police spokesperson said.

“The 20-year-old man jumped into his car and allegedly reversed and then drove forward into both police cars in an attempt to leave the scene.

“Police smashed the windows of the car and deployed OC spray to arrest the man, who allegedly failed to comply with any instruction by police to turn off and stop the vehicle.”

Officers searched the car, uncovering a quantity of drugs and a “significant” quantity of cash, police alleged.

Police on Sunday night charged Carney with offences including reckless conduct endangering serious injury and aggravated intentional exposure of a police officer to risk by driving.

He also faces charges of committing an indictable offence whilst on bail, driving whilst disqualified, possessing cannabis, fraudulently using a registration plate, theft, failure to stop on police request and resisting an officer.

Carney was due to appear in Geelong Magistrates Court for a filing hearing on Monday, but the court heard he had refused to leave his cell.

His defence lawyer listed custody management issues including depression and anxiety.

He was remanded in custody for a committal mention on August 6.