Chopper tracks offenders to centre

A 33-YEAR-OLD man has faced Toowoomba Magistrates Court on Friday after he allegedly led police on a pursuit from Grand Central Shopping Centre to Withcott.

The initial police report stated that officers observed the man entering the shopping centre car park in a black Audi sedan that was stolen from a Mt Lofty home on Wednesday.

Police followed the vehicle into the carpark but the man eluded capture.

A police spokesman said the Polair chopper was called in and helped officers track the vehicle to Withcott where a spike trap was deployed about 4pm.

Police successfully spiked the car’s tyres bringing it to a stop, but its two occupants fled on foot.

The driver, alleged to have been Jason James Cullen, was arrested a short time later and charged with dangerous operation of a motor vehicle, unlawful use of a motor vehicle, entering a dwelling, unlicensed driving and two counts of receiving tainted property.

He appeared before the Toowoomba Magistrates Court on Friday via video link from the watch house and sat quietly while his solicitor Brad Skuse applied for bail.

In the Magistrate’s Court, police objected to bail citing the seriousness of the offences and Cullen’s extensive criminal history.

Mr Skuse said Cullen lived with his partner, who was in court, and if granted bail he was willing to wear a GPS tracker, abide by a curfew and report to police.

“I’ll report every day,” Cullen interjected from the watch house.

However, Acting Magistrate Rowan Silva found the Crown case to be strong and refused Cullen bail, remanding him in custody with his matters adjourned for mention back in the same court on October 14.