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.

Urgency grows for major island bridge

The state government has signalled urgency around building a proposed large-scale bridge between the mainland and an increasingly popular island. A referral to the federal More

Design revealed for billion-dollar rail upgrade

Detailed designs have been released for a major rail upgrade, including track duplication, on the Sunshine Coast. The Department of Transport and Main Roads unveiled More

Calls for reform as GP bulk billing falls short

Sunshine Coast residents still face limited bulk billing GP options, despite major federal funding aimed at boosting access to free medical care. Government-funded Health Direct More

Council takes high-tech approach to weed battle

Drones, artificial intelligence and environmental DNA are among the tools being used by Sunshine Coast Council in a fight against invasive weeds. The CSIRO estimated, More

Researchers and distillers blend nature, sound and story

A local collaboration is turning one of the Sunshine Coast’s biggest environmental stories into something people can actually sip, hear and experience. The region’s UNESCO-recognised More

Tiny newcomers create a splash

Two endangered eagle ray pups are already stealing attention after making their public debut, with the tiny brothers quickly becoming known for their unique 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