100% Locally Owned, Independent and Free

100% Locally Owned, Independent and Free

Man accused of carjacking and shooting on highway to remain behind bars

Do you have a news tip? Click here to send to our news team.

David Jones confirmed to close at plaza

Mass store closures at embattled retail chain David Jones, including at Sunshine Plaza in Maroochydore, have left thousands of staff across five states in More

Tributes flow for pharmacist after diving tragedy

A Sunshine Coast business owner and mother who died following a diving incident has been remembered as an “incredible woman”. Certified diver Jo Host, 46, More

Pensioners challenge village rate increases

Hundreds of retirement village residents are pushing for council to reconsider rate increases they say are putting further pressure on pensioners living on fixed More

Beachside restaurant transformation underway

A two-level dining and bar venue is taking shape in a beachside community, with the first stage expected to open within weeks. Riva Peregian is More

Club expansion plan approved by council

A piece of public sporting land is set to be sold to help make way for an upgrade of an adjoining club site. Sunshine Coast More

Court deal changes brewery opening hours

A Sunshine Coast brewery can open earlier on weekdays after reaching an agreement with council to end a long-running dispute over its trading hours. Coolum More

A man accused of carjackings, a fatal crash and shooting a good Samaritan in a 30-minute spree will remain behind bars.

Bradley Donald Towle, 41, is facing 15 charges including dangerous driving causing death while intoxicated following a string of alleged incidents on the Sunshine Coast on Monday.

Towle is accused of causing a six-vehicle crash on the Bruce Highway that killed a 22-year-old woman who has been identified in court documents as Jocelyn Grace Mollee.

Police also allege Towle shot a 62-year-old man who stopped to offer assistance to crash victims before stealing two cars at gunpoint.

Towle has been charged with a string of offences including unlawful wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm and possessing methamphetamine, GHB and cash suspected to be proceeds of crime.

He was originally due to appear in Maroochydore Magistrates Court on Tuesday but he was still in hospital under police guard.

The matter was adjourned for him to appear via videolink on Wednesday.

The charges were briefly mentioned on Wednesday but Towle was not required to appear despite him being taken from hospital and placed in an adjacent police watchhouse.

Towle’s solicitor Ben Rynderman did not apply for bail and Magistrate Rodney Madsen remanded him in custody ahead of his case’s next court mention on June 30 at Maroochydore.

A man is arrested after a string of alleged incidents on the Sunshine Coast on Monday. Picture: Queensland Police

Mr Rynderman said outside court his client was facing very serious charges.

“The matter has been adjourned for the disclosure of a brief of evidence (by police),” he said.

“Ordinarily that takes approximately seven weeks. Given the complexity of this matter, it will take slightly longer.

“It’s a matter that will require careful investigation, certainly, and also careful analysis from a defence perspective.”

Mr Rynderman said he had spoken with his client after he was discharged from hospital but was not able to say whether or not Towle would seek bail at a later stage.

“(Towle’s) injuries are of a nature whereby he is able to be looked after in the watchhouse without requiring further medical assistance,” he said.

Court documents state Towle had declined to participate in a mental health assessment offered by a court liaison service.

Towle allegedly caused the multi-vehicle crash when the Porsche he was driving struck the side of a Nissan Micra.

Ms Mollee was a passenger in the Nissan, later dying of her injuries sustained in the crash.

Towle allegedly shot a 62-year-old Branyan man in the arm after he stopped to render assistance and stole his SsangYong Rexton.

He allegedly crashed that vehicle within 25 minutes of leaving the scene and carjacked a Mazda 3 that was being driven by a 16-year-old female learner driver and her parents.

The teen and her parents fled the vehicle and were not harmed.

Towle was later arrested at gunpoint by police at 12.48pm at the intersection of Steve Irwin Way and Forestry Road, Landsborough.

Dramatic arrest footage from body cameras has been shared by police.

Two officers with guns drawn can be seen in the footage approaching a vehicle on the busy intersection and screaming at a “bleeding” man to get out before handcuffing him.

Police allege officers found a single-barrel break-action shotgun in the Mazda that was used during the previous offences.

Subscribe to SCN’s free daily news email

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.
This field is hidden when viewing the form
[scn_go_back_button] Return Home
Share