POLICE GET THEIR MAN ... FINALLY
WITH A LITTLE HELP FROM SOME FRIENDS
AN eagle-eyed lollipop lady helped police track down a “runner” accused of fleeing a Gold Coast border checkpoint.
A change of clothes followed by a casual stroll on the beachfront could not foil police.
The 24-year-old had arrived at the Gold Coast
Airport on a flight from Sydney on Monday morning. It will be alleged the man did a “runner” from the airport when it was revealed he was wanted on a return-to-prison warrant. It is unknown why a warrant had been issued for his arrest.
The man ran through the airport and was later seen on the streets of Coolangatta and Kirra.
“He broke into a unit and stole some clothes,” a witness said.
“He changed his clothes and then casually walked out from behind a block of units and walked towards the beach.
“The guys on the roof were pointing him out to the police and saying, ‘He’s in the bush, he’s in the bush’.”
Dozens of police chased the man, putting in a cordon and locking down the area.
He was found by the dog squad at 12.50pm
Another witness said more than 20 police officers scoured the CoolangattaKirra beachfront for the man.
“They blocked it off in front of the North Kirra Surf Club,” they said. “One of the police said to me ‘we have got a runner’.”
The witness said the chase went through houses and building sites at North Kirra.
“The man was wearing a red T-shirt and black shorts when the chase started but later swapped them for a white shirt and jeans. A lollipop lady noticed his red T-shirt under his clothes.
“Police used directions from builders on a worksite and the dog squad to sniff out the man in the beachside brambles.”
The man had not been charged last night.