THE driver who on Saturday led police on a pursuit up and down a Byng Street block before they rammed the car he was driving and tasered him has fronted court.
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The man, 58, of Orange, appeared before Orange Bail Court by video link from the Orange police station on Sunday morning, before being sent for a mental health assessment at Bloomfield Hospital.
He is facing a string of charges after allegedly threatening, and deliberately driving a car towards, a police officer, and driving dangerously and on the wrong side of the road while being pursued.
According to police, at about 4.15pm on Saturday they spoke with the man, who was standing outside the Byng Street police station.
Police say the man then got into a Ford sedan and threatened a male sergeant before deliberately driving the vehicle towards him, forcing him to jump out of the way.
VIDEO: Footage from the scene of Saturday’s incident …
The officer wasn’t injured, however the man allegedly repeatedly attempted to strike him with the vehicle.
He continued driving in a manner dangerous to the public and avoided apprehension, with witnesses reporting he was driving his vehicle on the wrong side of the road while driving up and down Byng Street between Lords Place and Anson Street.
Other motorists driving on the road at the time were forced to pull over or take evasive action to avoid a collision, while stunned pedestrians watched events unfold from the footpath.
Police pursued the vehicle before bringing it to a stop by blocking the roundabout at the intersection of Byng and Anson streets and ramming his vehicle with one of their own.
Several police vehicles were damaged, and the man was subdued with a taser.
MAP: Where the incident started in Orange …
He was arrested and was taken to the police station where he was charged with assaulting and intimidating police, driving in a dangerous manner, leading police on a pursuit, resisting arrest, and using an instrument to avoid apprehension.
A senior constable received minor injuries while attempting to stop the vehicle, however she did not require medical treatment.
Traffic at the intersection was diverted while the vehicle the man was driving was loaded onto a tow truck and removed from the scene.
Police have spoken to several witnesses but are appealing for any witnesses or anyone with footage of the incident to contact Orange Police or Crime Stoppers 1800 333 000.
