A MAN who allegedly rammed police vehicles after officers shot at his stolen car was still withdrawing from drugs in Wodonga court on Monday.
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A bloodied and bruised Keith King, 22, did not speak and stared off into the distance during a magistrate’s court appearance.
He had bloodstains on both sides of his head and nose after being dropped onto a road by a resident following Sunday’s violent ordeal.
King moved slowly through the courtroom, in stark contrast to his alleged actions on a usually quiet Wodonga street the previous day.
The police member appeared to have flattened two tyres on the stolen Hyundai, but the vehicle didn’t stop and hit three vehicles, including two police cars.
One car was pushed back into a third highway patrol vehicle.
Police tried to smash the windows of the fleeing vehicle but it sped in reverse on Castle Creek Road.
It smashed another car and scooter and stopped centimetres from a house.
King allegedly jumped a fence before being subdued by a nearby resident after demanding his car keys.
The resident told The Border Mail he had "piffed” King onto the road and let police take care of the rest.
Defence lawyer Sally Wilson told magistrate John O’Callaghan her client was still withdrawing from drugs on Monday morning.
He had already received treatment at Albury hospital for injuries sustained during his capture.
The court heard he has other legal matters pending.
Charges are yet to be finalised and may determine whether the case is heard in a magistrate’s court or county court.
Police association secretary Ron Iddles said the ordeal showed the risks police regularly faced on duty.
“This incident highlights the dangerous environment and the challenging work that our members confront each and every day while serving the community,” he said.
Police professional standards is conducting a review of the shooting, a standard practice whenever an officer discharges a firearm.
Police media released a statement on Sunday night stating two shots had been fired, which was deleted.
A new release made no mention of the shooting.
