Two men have been arrested after a stolen car was used to hit a senior police officer attempting to stop a getaway, in the carpark of the Burvale Hotel in Melbourne’s east.
According to investigators, the men stole a white Honda hatch around 1:50am Thursday in Ringwood East. They then drove it to ALH’s Burvale Hotel, on the Burwood Highway, which is open until 5am.
After being alerted that the car was onsite, two officers attended the venue about 2.40am, where they cordoned off the area, set up a perimeter and began deploying tyre-deflation devices known as ‘stop sticks’ to prevent the car from leaving.
According to police, one of the men got into the stolen car and attempted to exit, swerving to avoid the devices. In doing this he struck a 27-year-old senior constable, at high speed.
The driver fled the scene, captured on CCTV driving fast down the wrong side of Springvale Rd.
The officer that was hit was thrown into the air, landing on the car’s windscreen then roof. He sustained significant but non-life-threatening injuries to his upper-body, including a broken shoulder, and was transported to hospital.
Acting Commander Matthew Baynes says the constable will “take some time to recover” and expressed concern over the “disregard for the safety” of both police and the community.
A 32-year-old man from Preston believed to have been the passenger was arrested at the Hotel, subsequently charged with theft of a motor vehicle and of petrol. He will appear before court at a later date.
Following the incident, police called upon considerable resources to find the driver.
The stolen and damaged vehicle was found abandoned on Tucker Rd, in Vermont South, just a few kilometres from the crime scene.
Later that day 20-year-old Eden Cavanagh-Reed from Ringwood East, believed to be the driver, was arrested.
The man was charged with 10 offences, most significantly aggravated intentional exposure of police officer to risk by driving.
He was also charged with failing to stop vehicle after an accident, failure to render assistance, drive in a dangerous manner, reckless conduct causing injury and careless driving, as well as possessing cannabis and methamphetamine.
On Friday he faced Melbourne Magistrates’ Court, where his defence stated that he had been withdrawing from drugs, suggested to be methamphetamine and GHB. His mother also told the court he suffers from the psychiatric condition borderline personality disorder.
Police will reportedly present as evidence bodycam footage, CCTV, DNA, and a report by an expert in motor vehicle incidents.
Cavanagh-Reed was not granted bail, and will reappear before the court 30 August.
