A man said he was going to kill himself and police before allegedly driving at a police vehicle with his lights switched off at more than 80km/h and veering onto the wrong side of busy roads.
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The court heard more than five drivers had to take evasive action to avoid being hit by Caleb Joel Fraser who was driving on the wrong side of the road on Friday morning in Ballarat.
The 31-year-old appeared in the dock of the Ballarat Magistrates' Court on Monday after being arrested on Friday and made a self-represented application for bail.
Magistrate Tim Walsh said the allegations against Fraser 'sent a shiver' down his spine.
Police informant Senior Constable Rory Mitchell said police officers were in Sebastopol when they saw Fraser sitting in the driver's seat of a gold Nissan Navara ute on May 13.
Police intercepted him and allegedly saw a knife in the driver's side door pocket of the car.
My mental status and health is not very good.
- Caleb Joel Fraser, accused man
They searched the car and allegedly found an imitation firearm, a black plastic pistol, behind the driver's seat and a backpack with 53 grams of cannabis and one gram of methamphetamine.
Fraser was arrested and placed in the custody pod of the police vehicle while police continued searching the car.
The court heard Fraser screamed, yelled insults to police members, kicked and thrashed in the van and allegedly smashed the perspex window on the custody pod door.
Fraser was taken to the police station in a second police vehicle where he was charged and bailed and released at 2.20am.
Senior Constable Mitchell said Fraser left the station on foot and allegedly snapped boom gates from its hinges at Uniting on Dana Street, causing $2000 damage.
Police allege he then went on to snap a council street sign from a pole on the corner of Dana Street and Lydiard Street and break two flag poles at The Grand restaurant.
The court heard Fraser allegedly began sending a series of texts to his ex-girlfriend about 2.30am saying he was going to 'kill some cops' and kill himself.
The ex-girlfriend reported the messages to police and police attended Fraser's Sebastopol home to conduct a welfare check, but he became aggressive and police left.
Senior Constable Mitchell said a police unit was driving in Alfredton about 4.20am on Friday when Fraser allegedly turned his headlights off, crossed onto the wrong side of the road and drove directly at police.
The court heard officers had to veer to avoid being hit and measured Fraser's speed at 89km/h when he was driving directly at the police vehicle.
About 8.40am Fraser allegedly sent more abusive and controlling messages to his ex-girlfriend.
Senior Constable Mitchell said police members were driving in the Haddon and Nintingbool areas after the accused had made calls to police threatening to kill himself with a gun.
Police saw the accused's gold Nissan Navara ute speeding towards Ballarat and attempted to catch up to it allegedly speeding 150km/h on the Glenelg Highway.
The court heard police saw Fraser allegedly cross double lines onto the wrong side of the road, forcing three oncoming cars to veer to avoid collision.
Senior Constable Mitchell said Fraser allegedly did this another two times, causing three more cars to avoid being hit while he was speeding more than 140km/h.
Four people made calls to triple zero to report Fraser's dangerous driving in the Delacombe area.
Police attended an address about 9.50am on Friday after a member of the public provided information about the location of Fraser's car.
Fraser allegedly lunged aggressively towards an officer who told him to get on the ground and a number of officers had to tackle him while he thrashed and kicked.
Senior Constable Mitchell said police found 13 Xanax tablets and $400 cash in his possession.
Fraser was charged with criminal damage, driving at emergency workers, dangerous driving placing people in danger of death, resisting and assaulting emergency workers and drug possession.
"He told me he had no recollection of driving at anyone," Senior Constable Mitchell said.
"He said there were a couple of times during the night he woke up on the wrong side of the road with cars coming at him."
Senior Constable Mitchell said Fraser had behaved poorly in the police cells.
Representing himself from the dock, Fraser said he would like to be bailed to live at his mother's house.
"My mental status and health is not very good," he said.
Fraser said he was anxious and concerned about his safety as he was stabbed last year.
Mr Walsh said he was not satisfied Fraser had shown compelling reasons and refused bail.
If you need help, contact Beyond Blue 1300 224 636, beyondblue.org.au or Lifeline on 14 11 14.
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