Three teens arrested after manhunt

POLICE have arrested three teenagers on the Gold Coast after an almost month-long manhunt.

The men were arrested on the M1 at Reedy Creek on Saturday night after the police helicopter tracked a stolen car from Brisbane.

Police will allege one of the men was involved in several incidents starting on January 4 in Brisbane.

A search of nearby bushland found a semi-automatic handgun which police will allege had been thrown by one of the men. It will be alleged the men were involved in several car thefts and at least one assault.

Police used road spikes to stop the car. Three men ran from the car and police found two of them in bushland nearby.

A 19-year-old Wynnum man has been charged with unlawful use of a motor vehicle, unlawful possession of a weapon, possession of a knife in a public place, possession of explosives and possession of a utensil.

He has also been charged with various robbery charges, assault occasioning bodily harm, dangerous operation of a vehicle, driving while disqualified, unlawful use of a motor vehicle and two counts of fail to stop motor vehicle. He will appear at the Southport Magistrates Court today.

An 18-year-old Carina man had been previously charged on January 8 with two counts of unlawful use of a motor vehicle and one count each of dangerous operation of a vehicle, armed robbery, stealing and burglary and commit indictable offence. He has been remanded in custody to reappear on February 20.

An 18-year-old Sunnybank Hills man, who was in the vehicle on January 27, has been charged with possession of a knife in a public place and unlawful use of a motor vehicle. He is expected to appear at the Southport Magistrates Court on February 13.