Man charged following taxi carjacking

Melbourne Divisional Response Unit officers have charged a man following an alleged carjacking and collision in a stolen taxi in the CBD on Sunday night.

It is alleged a passenger travelling in a taxi threatened the driver on Flinders Lane, near the intersection of Queen Street, about 9.20pm.

The taxi driver managed to get out of the vehicle and was not physically injured.

The man allegedly fled in the taxi towards North Melbourne, before returning to the city.

Police responded to reports the taxi had collided with another car at the intersection of Flinders Street and Spencer Street a short time later.

The offender collided heavily with a civilian vehicle, causing it to career into other vehicles and knock over a traffic light.

There were no injuries.

The man got out of the taxi and allegedly attempted to run from the scene but was restrained by members of the community and an off-duty police officer.

The 36-year-old man of no fixed address was arrested and taken to hospital for assessment.

He’s been charged with carjacking, carjacking, commit indictable offence whilst on bail, theft of motor vehicle, reckless conduct endangering serious injury, drive in a manner dangerous, fail to give name/address to other person, fail to render assistance after accident and learner driver drive vehicle without supervising driver.

The man was remanded to next appear at Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on 26 November.

Kathryn Muffett

Media Unit

142680