A truck driver has been charged after a lead police officer went on an epic multi-state chase following allegations he stole a bobcat.
A 24-year-old man has been taken into custody after a wild chase from Queensland into NSW that downed power lines, damaged police vehicles and injured an officer on Thursday evening.
At around 6pm, Queensland Police alerted NSW Police that a table truck, allegedly loaded with a stolen bobcat, had entered NSW at Boggabilla and was being driven south along the Newell Highway.
They were told the truck had been followed by Queensland Police, with a 27-year-old senior officer suffering minor injuries when his vehicle was reportedly rammed in Millmerran.
NSW Police tried to stop the truck about 100km north of Moree, in the state’s north, but the driver ignored their directions and continued south, frequently crossing the wrong side of the highway.
A truck driver has been charged after a lead police officer went on an epic multi-state chase following allegations he stole a bobcat
Police claim they installed road spikes which deflated one of the front tires, but the driver drove another 10km on the wrong side of the highway before cutting off a police vehicle and disabling it.
It is alleged he hit a power pole, breaking it and downing power lines before continuing to evade police.
It is believed the bobcat got loose from the box and was abandoned.
The truck eventually stopped about 20 miles from Gurley, with the side front wheel scraped down to the steel hub, where the driver was arrested.
He was taken to Moree District Hospital for mandatory tests where he remained under guard before being transported to the police station.
The man was charged with a series of offenses including negligent driving and receiving stolen property.
He was refused bail and will appear in court on Friday.
Police believe the bobcat was stolen from the Boonah showground in Queensland yesterday morning.
Anyone with dashcam footage is urged to contact Crime Stoppers.