Fugitives dramatic arrest in remote WA
Written by admin on November 29, 2024
Dramatic footage has emerged of the moment heavily armed West Australian police arrested a pair of fugitives who had crossed the country after allegedly kidnapping a man, shooting him and then leaving him for dead in a NSW national park.
The 25-year-old man and 38-year-old woman were apprehended in remote bushland after their vehicle broke down in Balladonia, about 700 kilometres north of Perth on November 21.
Police are now searching for a 27-year-old woman, wanted in relation to the alleged kidnapping. The trio are accused of kidnapping a 32-year-old man at gunpoint from a Port Macquarie home on November 16.
They are accused of then taking the man to Blago Bluff National Park, shooting him several times in the arms and legs, then leaving him for dead, according to police.
NSW Police Inspector Peter O’Reilly told media the victim was discovered by a trail jogger “naked and bleeding”.
“It was apparent he’d been shot on a number of occasions,” said O’Reilly. The man was treated by NSW Ambulance paramedics before being taken to hospital in a serious condition.
The victim remains in hospital but is now in a stable condition.
NSW police established Strike Force Parham to investigate the kidnapping, discovering the pair had driven across the country in a 2014-model Holden Trax, crossing the border into Western Australia.
WA Police established the car had broken down and was parked in scrubland 100 metres from the Balladonia Roadhouse. Footage shows the car surrounded by heavily armed police, who smashed open the back window before dragging the driver out of the car.
One office sustained minor facial injuries during the “high-risk arrest”.
Police seized a torch, knife and a loaded sawn-off rifle in a search of the pair’s vehicle.
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Following inquiries, the 38-year-old woman was then extradited back to NSW from Perth airport on November 25. She was then taken to Mascot Police Station and charged with five offences including, shoot at with intent to murder and kidnap in company.
The following day, the 25-year-old man was also extradited to NSW and subsequently charged with three offences.
Both were refused bail to face court in Port Macquarie.
