Police chased a Ford Ranger towing a car through Canberra on Tuesday (8 April). Photo: Screenshot.
The man accused of leading police on an interstate car chase while towing a trailer before jumping into Lake Burley Griffin to try to escape has been remanded in custody.
John Warren Westaway, a 38-year-old from Queanbeyan in NSW, had to be pulled out of the lake after the lengthy incident on Tuesday (8 April).
He was arrested when he was taken back to shore. He faced the ACT Magistrates Court on Wednesday (9 April).
The court heard he was alleged to have had drugs in his system, was disqualified from driving, put the safety of other road users at risk and used a weapon to prevent his arrest (being the Ford Ranger) in a way that was likely to have endangered human life.
He was handed charges that included failing to stop for police, using an offensive weapon to hinder his arrest, driving dangerously, drug driving and unlicenced driving.
Mr Westaway, who faced court dressed in grey and wearing thongs, made no application for bail and Magistrate Ian Temby remanded him in custody to next face court on 1 May.
During his brief court appearance, he was seen mouthing words to a woman sitting in the courtroom’s gallery, then blew her a kiss before he was led away.
The incident he was charged over began in NSW on Tuesday when police began chasing a black Ford Ranger that was towing a car trailer with a Toyota Hilux on it.
The Ranger crossed the ACT border on Canberra Avenue in Fyshwick, so NSW Police alerted ACT Policing to the incident at about 9 am.
The car then allegedly drove onto the wrong side of the road multiple times, as well as on footpaths along the foreshore of Lake Burley Griffin, placing other road users and pedestrians at significant risk, an ACT Policing spokesperson said.
It came to a stop behind the National Gallery, near the Sculpture Garden, before the alleged driver jumped into the lake.
Tactical Response officers had to get into the water to retrieve Mr Westaway, then arrested him when he was back on the shore.
Original Article published by Albert McKnight on Region Canberra.
