One of the two offenders arrested during a major police operation involving the airwing and dog squad over the weekend has fronted court.
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The Ballarat Magistrates’ Court on Monday heard Aaron Griffin, 23, who is facing a string of offences arising from the weekend, was arrested on Sunday afternoon.
Representing himself in court, Griffin made an application for bail which was subsequently refused.
Police opposed bail, arguing Griffin was a risk of reoffending if he was released into the community.
It is alleged Griffin, who was on bail at the time for possessing ice, was involved in a crash with a taxi on Saturday night which resulted in the dog squad being called in to help locate the accused and his female co-accused who had fled the scene on foot.
The taxi driver suffered a number of minor injuries.
The court heard the dog squad helped locate a number of belongings alleged to be that of the accused and co-accused along Lyons Street, not far from the crash scene.
The car it is alleged Griffin was driving was involved in a police pursuit the day before, which was terminated as the driver increased speeds and began driving on the wrong side of Wendouree Parade.
Police informant Senior Constable Daniel Milne told the court a search warrant was executed at Griffin’s Gregory Street address on Sunday afternoon.
He said the accused fled the property as police knocked on the front door, resulting in the airwing being called in to help locate him.
He was later arrested in Forest Street.
During the search of the house it is alleged police found two grams of ice.
It is also alleged Griffin was involved in the theft of a $20,000 car from outside a Miners Rest property.
Asked why he should be released on bail, Griffin told the court he planned to live with his mum who did not tolerate illegal activity and return to work.
“I’ll give it a really good go,” he said.
But Magistrate Franz Holzer refused bail on the grounds Griffin did not show why he shouldn’t be kept in custody.
He was remanded into custody to reappear in the Ballarat Magistrates’ Court on May 2 via videolink.
The female co-accused was also arrested over the weekend and will appear in court at a later date.
