Police nab suspect after siege

Gary Thompson | 13th July 2009

FOR the residents of Barreenong Street, Glen Eden, it was a night of drama.

TESTING SITUATION: Constable Daryl Sparkes at the Barreenong siege, Glen Eden, on Saturday night.

Gladstone Observer/Jen Tybell

FOR the residents of Barreenong Street, Glen Eden, it was a night of drama.

About 5pm Saturday Gladstone police prepared for a siege after they learned a suspect involved in an earlier car chase may have been hiding out in one of the street's houses.

Police sealed entries and exits to the location, warned residents to stay indoors and called in the special emergency response team (SERT) before calling on the occupants of the house to surrender.

Gladstone district inspector Graham Coleman said yesterday after the police surrounded the premises one man surrendered, but the other remained inside the house.

He said there were indications the remaining suspect may have been armed.

The man had earlier been involved in at least two police chases, having tried to run down a police officer in one.

At 7am Sunday, the man tried to escape through the rear of the house only to run into the waiting arms of special response officers.

He was arrested and brought to the Gladstone watch house where he remains in custody.

During the police chase the man, believed to be in his mid 20s, was driving a stolen vehicle and was wanted for questioning on a number of offences from Townsville to Gladstone.

After his arrest he was questioned and charged with several offences including unlawful use of a motor vehicle and evading police.

Inspector Coleman thanked the residents of Glen Eden for their co-operation and support in a difficult operation.

“They were wonderful and extremely co-operative,” inspector Coleman said.

“It's just good to be able to get this man off the street.”