Charges over police injury

A MAN charged over a Mt Duneed crash that left a police officer in hospital allegedly assaulted and falsely imprisoned a woman on the same day.

Andrew Hutchison, 21, appeared in Geelong Magistrates’ Court yesterday, charged over Tuesday’s Surf Coast Highway smash.

The Melton West man has been charged with offences including false imprisonment, reckless conduct endangering life, intentionally causing serious injury and intentionally exposing an emergency worker to risk by driving.

The charge sheet alleges he imprisoned, detained and assaulted a female victim in the Melbourne suburb of Altona.

The documents also reveal he allegedly drove his Holden Commodore erratically and at high speeds at Aireys Inlet, Anglesea, Torquay and Mt Duneed.

On Tuesday, police arrested the man after a sergeant, 56, who was standing next to his stationary police car was struck by another vehicle on the Surf Coast Highway at Mt Duneed shortly after 1pm.

He was taken to hospital with a broken foot, broken finger and cuts and grazes.

During the short court hearing, Mr Hutchison wore a black moon boot on his right foot and supported himself with crutches.

The court was told Mr Hutchison was on the autism spectrum, had expressed suicidal thoughts and had not before been in custody.

The accused made no application for bail and was remanded in custody to appear at Geelong Magistrates’ Court on December 6 for a likely bail application.