Freed to speed
Repeat offender’s car chase
A DISQUALIFIED driver involved in two high-speed police pursuits, theft, assaults and drug charges, has walked free on a community corrections order despite breaching the one he was already on.
Tyler Lamanna, 20, of Kingston Drive, Ocean Grove, pleaded guilty in Geelong Magistrates’ Court yesterday to charges including using a prohibited weapon, failing to stop on police request, resisting and assaulting police, careless driving and dishonesty matters.
Police prosecutor Leading Senior Constable Geoff Lamb said on November 8 last year Lamanna went to a house and threatened a person there with a taser.
The prosecutor said on May 3 and May 9, Lamanna was involved in two high-speed police pursuits during which his unregistered car was driven at 150km/h.
He said on each occasion, Lamanna was a disqualified driver.
Sen-Constable Lamb said during the second pursuit at Bell Post Hill, Lamanna drove down a dead-end street and, as he attempted a U-turn to evade police, collided with a pole.
“One officer smashed the window with his baton to extract Lamanna, who then grabbed the baton and tried to get it off him. OC spray was deployed and Lamanna was arrested soon after.”
Sen-Constable Lamb said police also found 2g of methamphetamine and an ice pipe in the car.
He said in separate offending on September 10, Lamanna and a co-accused attended a Curlewis property in a red ute and stole cyclone wire fences.
Magistrate Frank Jones convicted Lamanna and placed him on a further 12-month community corrections order with 75 hours community work. He was also disqualified from driving for 12 months.