THREE TEENAGERS have been arrested and a fourth is on the run following a dramatic police pursuit that locked down Tweed City earlier this afternoon.
Tweed Police were notified by Queensland Police’s Polair that a stolen Skoda was crossing the border at Numinbah shortly before 4pm this afternoon.
Police officers intercepted the vehicle on Tweed Valley Way at Stotts Creek where they deployed a tyre deflation device that punctured the vehicle’s two side tyres.
The vehicle continued with the flat tyres and police initiated a pursuit, that ended at Minjungbal Drive, Tweed Heads South, after it hit a Nissan Patrol.
The four males fled on foot and three were arrested shortly after police established a perimeter around Tweed City Shopping Centre.
The teens, two aged 15 and the other 16, were arrested with the assistance of the Police Dog Unit. The fourth teen remains on the run despite police searching the shopping centre and surrounding area.
Federal member for Richmond Justine Elliot and her husband Craig Elliot were shopping at Tweed City when they heard police sirens.
“We were in the carpark at the time, when we saw this car come flying through a red light at the traffic lights and run into another car,” Mr Elliot said.
“I saw the four men get out of the car, all dressed in mostly black and running from the car.”
Both Craig and Justine are former police officers and Craig said he knew something was wrong.
“I knew I had to do something, I looked at Justine and said it’s on here,” Craig said.
Craig said he watched the four men approach the shopping centre stairs attempting to avoid the police helicopter from following them overhead.
“I grabbed the first one as he came towards me and tackled him to the ground as Justine backed me up,” Craig said.
“Police were behind the men and calling out to stop police, I knew I had to do something.”
While the other three men got into the shopping complex, Craig and Justine were able to stop one and police later apprehended another two.
The teens, two aged 15 and the other 16, were arrested with the assistance of the Police Dog Unit. The fourth teen remains on the run despite police searching the shopping centre and surrounding area.
The trio were taken to Tweed Heads Police Station and remain in custody.
Two police officers were injured during a foot pursuit and have been taken to hospital for treatment.
Craig said he wanted to praise local police who he said do an outstanding job
Police are urging anyone with information about this incident is urged to contact Crime Stoppers: 1800 333 000 or https://nsw.crimestoppers.com.au. Information is treated in strict confidence.