‘Escapee’ returned to custody
No bail application for 29-year-old would-be fugitive
A 29-YEAR-OLD man accused of breaking out of a police prison van on the Toowoomba Range and fleeing police has been slapped with a list of extra charges.
The would-be fugitive was captured on dashcam fleeing barefoot up the Warrego Highway chased by police, and was eventually found in an East St home.
He remained in the watch house when his matters were mentioned before Toowoomba Magistrates Court and made no application for bail.
Among his fresh charges was that of stealing a pair of sneakers he was found wearing, allegedly taken from the home at which he was found.
A MAN charged with escaping from a police van on the Toowoomba Range remains securely in custody after his matters were mentioned before Toowoomba Magistrates Court.
Jason Lee Colless remained in the watch house and was not brought into court when his case was mentioned yesterday morning, duty solicitor Shane MacDonald telling the court that his client would not be making an application for bail.
Police claim the 29-year-old kicked open the door of the police van in which he and other prisoners were being transferred to Brisbane prisons about 8.30am Wednesday as the van drove down the range.
Dashcam footage from a vehicle nearby showed the barefoot prisoner dressed in prison-issue brown shirt and track pants running off back up the Warrego Highway with two police officers in pursuit.
He initially ran into bush and was able to evade police for a time, prompting a two-hour police search of the area with the police dog squad eventually tracking the alleged fugitive to an East St home.
Police claim when challenged the prisoner had jumped through a window from inside the home but was quickly apprehended in the back yard.
He was allegedly wearing a pair of the woman’s sneakers, and police claim he had taken a mobile phone and some cash from the home which was allegedly found on him, leading to a charge of stealing.
Colless was taken into custody and charged with escaping lawful custody, trespassing, obstructing police and three counts of entering a premises with intent arising from Wednesday morning’s alleged incidents.
He was not required to enter pleas to the charges.
Police prosecutor Sergeant Natalie Bugden told the court Colless had been refused bail on Monday on unrelated charges and remanded in custody with those matters set for mention back in the same court on April 16.
There being no application for bail, Magistrate Viviana Keegan remanded Colless in custody and adjourned all matters for mention on April 16 with the prisoner’s appearance in court that day excused.