WHAT WE KNOW SO FAR
- A two-car collision sparked the manhunt, where a police car was rammed
- One police member was taken to hospital in a stable condition
- A police pursuit started in Ballarat East but was soon terminated
- The car involved in the crash, believed to be stolen, was found burnt out in the Canadian Regional Park
- The culprit was believed to be on foot in the forest
- The police helicopter and dog squad were involved in the search
- Police will now shift their focus to an investigation phase to track down the offender
WEDNESDAY, 12.20PM: Victoria Police are asking the public for help to find the man who escaped after a marathon manhunt onTuesday.
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The public is being warned not to approach Adam Sandlant, who is suspected of ramming a police car yesterday.
Police have released the following message:
“Police are appealing for public assistance to help locate Adam Sandlant.
A warrant has been issued for the 39-year-old’s arrest in relation to an incident in Ballarat on 6 June, where a police car was struck by another vehicle.
Sandlant is described as 170cm tall with a medium build and was last seen wearing dark coloured clothing.
He is known to frequent Ballarat and surrounding areas.
Police have released an image of Sandlant in the hope someone recognises him and can provide information on his whereabouts.
Anyone who sights Sandlant is urged not to approach him but to call Triple Zero (000) or contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or make a confidential report at www.crimestoppersvic.com.au.”
WEDNESDAY, 10.20AM: A major air and ground search a man who injured a Sergeant will not resume today after police concluded he was likely to have moved on from Canadian Regional Park.
It's believed the man ditched his getaway car near Bakers Road before torching it and fleeing on foot into bushland on Tuesday afternoon.
Senior Sergeant Neale Robinson said it was a large scale operation in difficult terrain amid historic mine shafts.
Police will shift their focus to an investigation phase in the search for the offender.
The air wing failed to locate the man over Ballarat yesterday and a dog squad arrived close to nightfall shortly before it was called off.
TUESDAY, 7PM: A man who injured a Sergeant by ramming a police car remains on the loose after a major search operation across Ballarat on Tuesday afternoon.
Police were driving along Howitt Street in Black Hill before the man in a Holden ute smashed into them about 1.35pm, injuring the male Sergeant who was taken to hospital.
The ramming kicked off a police manhunt, with the air wing arriving to scour bushland over Mount Clear’s pine plantation for the culprit.
Police on the ground surrounded the tree-lined block at its exits, waiting for the offender to emerge.
But then officers found the man's car engulfed in flames amid bushland along Bakers Road in Canadian Regional Park, more than one kilometre east of the original search area.
Firefighters arrived to contain the blaze while police encircled the state forest, turning back nearby residents to ensure the search area was not contaminated for a dog squad.
But the dog squad did not arrive until about 4.30pm as light was already failing.
A spokeswoman for Victoria Police confirmed the search was called off after nightfall.
The area of Canadian Regional Park where the police operation was focused has a number of historic mine shafts adding further difficulties to the manhunt.
It comes just two weeks after a police divvy-van was rammed twice in Golden Point by a stolen vehicle, sparking concern for police safety.
6.30pm: Police have called off their search for a wanted man in Canadian Regional Forest following a five-hour manhunt that started with a ramming of a police car.
Darkness and the difficulty of the terrain impeded police units in their search of the area near Bakers Road since the man torched a stolen vehicle at about 3pm and fled into the forest.
Police are still on the lookout for a middle-aged man, wearing a dark-coloured spray jacket and with a mohawk haircut.
It is believed the man is known to police.
Anyone with information relating to the man is urged to call Crime stoppers on 1800 333 000.
5.45pm: Police will continue to maintain a presence in the search area despite darkness falling and impeding efforts in their hunt for the runaway.
The area of Canadian Regional Park where the police operation is occurring has a number of historic mine shafts adding further difficulties to the manhunt.
5.25pm: Victoria Police has just released the following statement:
“Police are currently at the Canadian State Forest in Ballarat following an incident earlier this afternoon.
A police vehicle was travelling along Howitt Street in Black Hill when it was struck by a Holden utility about 1.35pm.
The utility, which is believed to be stolen, then drove off.
The driver of the police vehicle, a male sergeant, was conveyed to hospital with minor injuries.
Police spotted the utility again and a pursuit was initiated about 2pm.
The pursuit was terminated a short time later.
The vehicle was located unoccupied and on fire on Bakers Road shortly before 3pm.
Police are currently searching the area for the male driver.
Anyone with any information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or submit a confidential crime report at www.crimestoppersvic.com.au.”
5pm: Here is our live video update from the scene.
4.10pm: The canine unit is now close to Ballarat, with the manhunt lasting more than two hours.
The hunt is now centred around the Canadian Regional Park.
3.40pm: The canine unit is still on the way to the scene.
3.35pm: The car fire has been listed as “under control” by the CFA.
3.21pm: It is believed the man is middle-aged, wearing a dark-coloured spray jacket and with a mohawk haircut.
3.07pm: Earlier in the afternoon a person was hospitalised in a stable condition, it has been confirmed.
The person was hospitalised after a two-car collision in Howitt Street, Black Hill, according to an Ambulance Victoria spokesperson.
It is believed a police car was rammed in the crash, just before 2pm.
3pm: It’s believed the man is now on foot in the Canadian Regional Park, on the other side of Main Road.
A car has been found burnt out in the bush on Davidson Road and the CFA has been called.
It’s believed the car was stolen.
There is a police presence on Bakers Road in the Canadian Regional Park.
2.50pm: Police cars have also been spotted in Eureka Street, Ballarat East.
However, it is not known if it is related.
The police helicopter is still flying above the Canadian area.
2.30pm: A manhunt is currently underway in Ballarat.
Police have swarmed the area near Brittain Street, Canadian in search of the target.
The police airwing has arrived on scene and the dog squad is believed to be en route.
The area the police are searching is surrounded by a bushland and dirt tracks.
It is believed they are searching for a 1970s white Toyota ute, with damage to the front on the right hand side.
More to come.
