Police have charged nine people after a stolen police vehicle was recovered near Townsville yesterday morning, 6 April.
Officers were initially responding to reports of several stolen vehicles being driven within the Townsville area around 11am.
The unmarked police vehicle was unoccupied and parked on the side of the Bruce Highway at Alligator Creek, with officers deploying a tyre deflation device on the stolen vehicles nearby.
Following the successful deployment of the tyre deflation device on two of the vehicles, several occupants allegedly fled on foot, with some gaining access to the nearby police vehicle and driving it off.
Officers tracked the police vehicle through the Townsville area before locating it abandoned on Beatrice Street in Aitkenvale at 12.23pm. No items from the vehicle were reported missing.
A stolen blue 2020 Ford Ranger and a stolen grey 2019 BMW vehicle were intercepted and recovered near Alligator Creek.
A stolen orange 2025 LDV T60 utility was later recovered at Jerona, and a stolen white 2021 MG was intercepted at Shirbourne.
Two offenders were arrested at the Bruce Highway at Alligator Creek Road around 11.30am, while the other five were located at Shirbourne.
An eighth person was taken into custody at Shirbourne and was released without charge.
During the incident three police officers were injured and transported to Townsville University Hospital for treatment.
An 18-year-old Garbutt man was charged with one count each of unlawful use of a motor vehicle and unlawful use of an emergency vehicle, and one count each of enter dwelling and commit and attempted enter dwelling with intent.
A 17-year-old Garbutt boy was charged with two counts of unlawful use of a motor vehicle, and one count each of assaults occasioning bodily harm, serious assault police officer causing bodily harm, obstruct police officer, driving of motor vehicle without a driver licence, enter dwelling and commit, enter premises with intent to commit indictable offence and attempted enter dwelling with intent.
A 14-year-old Vincent boy was charged with six counts of unlawful use of motor vehicle, two counts each of stealing and attempted enter dwelling, and one count each of obstruct police officer, enter dwelling and commit, assaults occasioning bodily harm, and enter premises and commit.
A 17-year-old South Townsville boy was charged with one count of unlawful use of a motor vehicle.
A 17-year-old Currajong boy was charged with one count of unlawful use of a motor vehicle.
An 18-year-old Kirwan woman was charged with one count each of stealing and unlawful use of a motor vehicle.
A 16-year-old Palm Island boy was charged with two counts of attempted enter dwelling and unlawful use of a motor vehicle.
All seven were refused police bail and are due to appear in the Townsville Childrens and Magistrates Courts today, 7 April.
This morning 7 April, a 15-year-old Vincent boy and a 16-year-old Rasmussen were arrested in relation to the theft of the police vehicle.
The 15-year-old Vincent boy was charged with three counts of unlawful use of a motor vehicle.
The 16-year-old Rasmussen boy was charged with three counts of unlawful use of a motor vehicle, and one count each of dangerous operation of a motor vehicle, stealing, enter dwelling and commt, attempted enter dwelling and commit and driving of motor vehicle without a driver licence.
Both were refused bail to appear in the Townsville Children’s Court tomorrow, 8 April.
Earlier: Eight people arrested, stolen police vehicle recovered, Townsville – Queensland Police News
