By Brendan Rees
Two teenagers have been arrested after being chased and tasered following a police pursuit that ended in car crash at a Berwick shopping centre on Thursday 6 August.
The incident unfolded after the teens allegedly stole a black Holden wagon after breaking into a Malmsbury Road home in Cranbourne North about 10.10am.
Victoria Police say the allege the victim, a 37-year-old woman and her two children were home at the time and one of the males threatened the woman with a knife.
A short time later police spotted the vehicle travelling at speed inbound on the Monash Freeway before it collided with an unmarked police vehicle.
A police helicopter followed the vehicle and stop sticks were deployed on nearby Clyde Road after the vehicle exited the freeway and travelled south, a police spokesperson said.
It’s alleged the vehicle came to a stop after crashing into two parked cars at Eden Rise Shopping Centre at the intersection of Clyde Road and O’Shea Road before the males fled on foot.
One of the males, an 18-year-old man from Doveton, was arrested nearby by the canine unit and sustained a bite to the arm.
He has been taken to hospital under police guard with non-life threatening injuries.
The second boy, a 17-year-old from Clyde North was arrested about 200 metres away on Clyde Road after a “conducted energy device” was deployed, a police spokesperson said.
An Ambulance Victoria spokesperson said paramedics were called to the incident at Berwick at 11am.
“A male patient was taken to The Alfred hospital with an upper body injury. A teenage boy was taken to Casey Hospital in a stable condition,” the spokesperson said.
Crime scene tape cordoned off part of the carpark as investigators pieced together the chain of events.
Members of the Public Order Response Team as well as detectives were also on scene.
Photos of the Holden wagon after the crash showed extensive damage to the bonnet.
Members from the Southern Metro Crime Team are investigating.
A worker nearby, who asked not to be named, said he heard a loud bang and looked outside to see police and bystanders everywhere.
Witnesses took to social media to express their shock, with one writing: “About 15 police cars out the front of Eden Rise branch following an apparent hit and run on the Monash. The pursuit led them to here where the car has crashed into parked cars and then tried to escape. Sniffer dogs have caught the two guys.”
Another wrote: “Just witnessed a stole (sic) car crash into some cars at Eden rise. And the police get them!!! Police chopper and everything!!!”
Anyone with information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
