AN Atherton man has been and charged with a slew of serious offences after he rammed a police car when attempting to leave a unit in Cairns North on Wednesday, 21 February.
Law enforcement officers made an attempt to intercept the vehicle as it was departing from a unit complex on McLeod Street.
The driver of the vehicle allegedly chose to drive directly at the police vehicle, resulting in a head-on collision.
Despite the dangerous nature of the collision, no serious injuries were reported and the driver was swiftly arrested, while a passenger managed to flee the scene on foot.
Upon searching the vehicle, officers purportedly discovered a telescopic baton, a knife, and methylamphetamine, further escalating the gravity of the situation.
The 44-year-old man now faces a litany of charges, including two counts of serious assault, possession of dangerous drugs, dangerous operation of a motor vehicle, unlawful possession of a weapon, possession of a knife in public, unlawful use of a motor vehicle, obstruction of police, wilful damage, receiving tainted property, driving unlicensed, possession of utensils, and failure to appear.
Due to the severity of the charges, the accused has been denied bail and is scheduled to appear before Cairns Magistrates Court on 25 March.
While the apprehension of the driver marks a significant development in the case, investigations into the identity of the passenger who fled the scene are still underway.
Authorities are urging anyone with pertinent information or relevant footage of the incident to come forward and assist with their inquiries.
Keep up with the latest news in Cairns and the Far North, and check out some of our top stories this week: Farm loan interest rates to change and Knife wielding man arrested.
