‘CATCH ME IF YOU CAN’

Man taunted police while on the run, court told

A MAN allegedly taunted police to “catch me if you can” while on the run for a string of serious crimes, including three police car rammings in Geelong.

Jack Hall, 21, of no fixed address, was arrested one day after he allegedly made the social media post on March 15 this year.

The Geelong Magistrates’ Court heard Mr Hall was wanted by police at the time over a range of offences that began five days earlier.

Mr Hall was refused bail on Wednesday after a magistrate raised concerns about the risk he posed to police officers and the wider community.

He has been charged with dozens of offences including being a prohibited person possessing a firearm and multiple counts of recklessly exposing an emergency worker to risk by driving.

Police allege the offending began when officers in an unmarked vehicle tried to intercept a stolen Ford Mondeo on Leonis Court, Corio, about 12.15pm on March 10.

The stolen car — allegedly being driven by Mr Hall — rammed the front of the police vehicle, causing significant damage.

Mr Hall is accused of fleeing the car, leaving behind a female passenger, before entering a nearby home while a man was inside asleep on a couch.

It is alleged Mr Hall stole keys to a separate Ford Mondeo before accelerating out of a driveway, causing a detective to take evasive action to avoid being struck.

Minutes later, the car was seen speeding at up to 140km/h along Plantation Road before reaching Norlane where it mounted a kerb, knocked down bins and collided with another police vehicle.

Mr Hall allegedly continued driving towards Separation Street, North Geelong, where a third police car was rammed.

The stolen car drove away and could not be located at the time, while three officers later identified Mr Hall as the driver using photoboards. Police allege he continued to commit offences over the next five days, including an aggravated burglary in Roxburgh Park.

Mr Hall was arrested on March 16 at a Newcomb address where police claim they found him with bags containing a homemade 22-calibre firearm, live ammunition and five stolen car keys.

Defence lawyer Wendy Gibbons said the charges would be contested while urging the court to grant Mr Hall bail to a drug rehabilitation clinic.

The court heard Mr Hall had been grappling with an addiction to ice and heroin.

“I’m asking you to give him an opportunity to at least break the cycle with the drug situation and seek the help he needs,” Ms Gibbons said.

But magistrate Franz Holzer refused bail after saying the alleged conduct placed police officers and “innocent” members of the public at considerable risk.

“He appears to have a complete disregard for legal process and the rule of law,” Mr Holzer said. “I’m not persuaded that the risk factors … can be alleviated by any conditions at all.”

Mr Hall was remanded until his next hearing on September 18.