A man armed with a loaded gun has led police on a high-speed 300km chase through Victoria, stealing several cars along the way and taking people as hostages.
It began when the 25-year-old allegedly brandished a firearm as police turned up to search a Dandenong address in relation to stolen vehicles about 10.30am (AEDT) on Thursday.
After an hour of negotiation the Endeavour Hills man fled in a stolen car with a 20-year-old female passenger.
Police and the airwing monitored him as he weaved through towns in Victoria's east at speeds of up to 160km/hr.
Superintendent Russell Barrett said the man evaded police on the 300km drive from Dandenong to Swan Reach, which is between Bairnsdale and Lakes Entrance, where he was arrested.
Supt Barrett said the man stopped several times on the way and brandished the weapon to steal about eight cars.
"On a number of occasions he stole cars which were occupied and on a number of occasions took hostages for a short period of time," he told AAP.
The man crashed one of the cars in Traralgon and his first female passenger was arrested by police.
"Probably the most amazing thing is that no one has been hurt, when you think about the behaviour that he's exhibited and the weapon that he had, that's an amazing outcome for a community," Supt Barrett said.
"I think it's fair to say this person showed behaviours that he wasn't going to surrender himself.
"This had the potential to be significant tragedy in the community."
The man has been arrested and is being questioned by police.
He is expected to be charged with assault, weapons and driving offences.
Share
