Two charged after alleged Byron Bay police pursuit over stolen e-bikes

 

Two men are due to face court on Thursday after an alleged police pursuit near Byron Bay in which projectiles including a fuel drum and power tools were allegedly thrown at a police vehicle.

Officers were called to a primary school in Byron Bay at about 11.30am on Wednesday following reports two e-bikes had allegedly been stolen.

Officers attached to Tweed-Byron Police District were told two men had allegedly loaded the e-bikes into a van before driving from the scene.

A van was later located nearby and officers attempted to stop it, with inquiries allegedly revealing the vehicle had been stolen in Queensland.

A pursuit was initiated when the driver allegedly failed to stop.

Police will allege in court that the occupants threw objects including a fuel drum and power tools at a police vehicle during the pursuit before the van was stopped at Tyagarah.

The two occupants allegedly ran from the vehicle before the alleged driver, a 38-year-old man, was arrested a short time later and a 34-year-old man was arrested following an extensive search of the area.

Both men were taken to Byron Bay Police Station.

The older man was charged with 11 offences while the younger man was charged with four offences.

Both men were refused bail and are due to appear before Bail Division Court 1 on Thursday.

The two e-bikes were later recovered in bushland on St Helena Road at McLeods Shoot and returned to the students at the school.