A man has been charged after allegedly dragging two children along for a police chase, driving the wrong way on a Sydney highway and then bundling the kids into a stolen car.
The wild episode began in Belmore in Sydney’s west on Saturday about 3pm, with footage capturing a portion of the ordeal.
A man has since been charged with armed robbery, reckless wounding and dangerous driving while failing to stop for police.
Police will allege officers were called to do a welfare check on a 36-year-old man at an address in Sydney’s west, but he refused to pull over and police gave chase.
“The pursuit continued into Auburn before it was terminated due to the manner of the man’s driving,” a police spokesperson said.
“A short time later, the vehicle was seen allegedly travelling on the wrong side of the M4 Motorway before colliding with an oncoming vehicle.
“Following the crash, the man allegedly exited the vehicle with two children and unsuccessfully attempted to steal another car.”
Mobile phone footage of the incident allegedly shows the 36-year-old man standing on the roadway with the kids, arguing with people who have gotten out of their own cars.
The person filming says “he has a knife”.
One of the people trying to intervene and assist the kids in the situation can be seen allegedly holding a young boy away from the man, as the boy screams.
The 36-year-old man then allegedly puts the boys into a car – right next to the person filming – and then the man gets in too.
They drive a few metres, stop, and the woman is allegedly shoved out the driver’s side door. As she lays on the bitumen, the car allegedly speeds off with the boys and man still inside.
Police said a 25-year-old man who stopped to help suffered a slash wound on his hand.
“It is alleged the man then stole the vehicle of a woman who had stopped to help, before putting the two children into the car and driving westbound along the M4 Motorway,” the police spokesperson said.
“The vehicle stopped on the Cumberland Highway, where the man was arrested by an off-duty police sergeant and assisted by members of the public.”
In court, police will allege the man threatened the female with a knife before she was forced from her Kia hatchback.
The 25-year-old man’s hand was slashed when he tried to reach and grab the keys to the Kia, police have alleged.
He now faces charges of police pursuit – not stop – drive dangerously, robbery armed with offensive weapon and reckless wounding.
He was scheduled to face the Local Bail Division Court on Sunday.
The children had minor injuries and were taken to hospital as a precaution.
Police want anyone with dashcam footage to come forward.
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