A stolen vehicle allegedly rammed a patrol car before a shot was reportedly fired at a police helicopter during a dramatic police operation on the Sunshine Coast.
Officers were called to Currie Street in Nambour on Thursday at 11am after reports that a stolen vehicle had been driven at a police car, before it fled the scene.
One man, the passenger, was arrested after getting out of the vehicle.
The vehicle was then spotted driving dangerously on the Bruce Highway at Noosa Heads, before it was located abandoned.
It is alleged the driver then stole a second vehicle, before a number of shots were reportedly fired. No one was injured.
A brief declaration was made under the Public Safety Preservation Act and was cancelled a short time later.
Investigations into the matter remain ongoing. Police believe there is no further threat to the public. Any witnesses or anyone with relevant vision is urged to contact police.
Inspector John Mahony said the ordeal appeared to start with a break-and-enter at Childers on Wednesday night.
He said a dozen firearms were taken and a stolen vehicle was located by police at Lake Macdonald in the early hours of Thursday morning.
He said a vehicle was stolen from that area and police attempted to intercept it at Nambour at about 10am.
“Police successfully arrested the male passenger in the stolen vehicle. However, the male driver of the stolen vehicle rammed a police vehicle and evaded police,” he said.
He said police identified the vehicle heading north on the highway and attempted to intercept several times before it was dumped at Noosa Springs.
“The male person who decamped the stolen vehicle was in possession of a long-arm firearm,” he said.
“The male person fired one round at the police chopper which was nearby.
“A short time later, police suspect that the male person also fired a single shot at a police officer in a police vehicle.”
He said police retreated from the area and the man fled on foot.
Inspector Mahony said that police received advice that the man then allegedly used a firearm to steal a vehicle from a woman at a residence.
“A short time later, police observed that vehicle on the wrong side of the road. An unmarked police vehicle engaged the stolen vehicle (and) impacted on the vehicle,” he said.
“A short time later, the male driver of the stolen vehicle was arrested by police and taken into police custody. Subsequent investigations by police have identified that a loaded firearm was located inside the stolen vehicle. The male arrested was also in possession of a large hunting knife at the time of his arrest.”
The man was transported to Nambour Hospital, where he has been guarded by police.
The 21-year-old from Hervey Bay was expected to be charged with several serious offences on Thursday night and appear in Maroochydore Magistrates Court on Friday morning.
The other man. who was arrested in Nambour, was a 42-year-old from Gladstone.
“Also of significance is the fact that police have recovered 10 of the 12 firearms at this stage. Inquiries and investigations are continuing in relation to locating and retrieving the two outstanding firearms,” Inspector Mahony said.
He said several locals in the Noosa area would be shaken by the events.
“Initial investigations by police have revealed that the male offender who was in possession of the firearm may have attempted to steal several other motor vehicles in the Noosa Springs recreation area and Noosa Heads area between 1pm and 3pm,” he said.
He said the woman whose vehicle was allegedly stolen was “quite distraught, as you would imagine”.
“We’re fairly certain that there will be other community members who have been directly impacted by this criminal activity today in the Noosa Springs Recreational Area.”
“They too will be suffering, but we appeal to those people to approach police at the earliest possible opportunity.”
He called on witnesses who may have seen “any suspicious activity in that area” and a “male person wearing blue shorts, either wearing a white shirt or not wearing a shirt at all”.
The QPS shared a message with community members on a Noosa Facebook page.
“We know there is a lot of discussion and speculation about a police incident in Noosa this afternoon, but we want to reassure everyone that we believe there is no further threat to the public,” they said.
If you have information for police, contact Policelink by providing information using the online suspicious activity form 24hrs per day at police.qld.gov.au/reporting. Report crime information anonymously via Crime Stoppers. Call 1800 333 000 or report online at crimestoppersqld.com.au.
