Update
Sutherland Shire Police Area Commander, Detective Superintendent Jason Box, has praised the bravery of officers who attended a Sutherland car park where a woman had rammed several carsbefore injuring a police officer with a pair of secateurs.
Superintendent Box said the officers who stopped the woman may have prevented commuters and shoppers from possible serious injury.
“It’s extremely lucky that [the offender] was stopped at that location,” Mr Box said.
“The officers did a great job, they were very brave in positioning themselves and stopping that vehicle.
“If that vehicle was to travel out of there and continue in that manner it could’ve been very nasty and a lot more damage done.”
Superintendent Box said that area of Sutherland at that time of the afternoon was very busy with people returning home from work.
“A lot of people park there to go to the train station,” he said.
“It’s fortunate it was at the backend of that carpark and it’s not as populated – though there are a lot of pedestrians around that area.
“The first vehicle that was hit by the 4WD was pushed approximately 10 metres in the car park.”
Superintendent Box said it is unclear why the woman behaved the way she did.
‘‘We do believe that her actions and driving manner were contributed to by drugs though this will be confirmed upon the results of the drug and alcohol testing,” he said.
The 38-year-old woman driver of the Mitsubishi Pajero, Courtney Anne Bell, has been charged with a number of offences including predatory driving, assault police officer in execution of duty cause actual bodily harm, and use etc offensive weapon to prevent lawful detention.
Ms Bell, a mother of two, was due to appear in Sutherland Local Court this morning but did not attend.
A Legal Aid solicitor appearing for her before Magistrate Glenn Walsh did not apply for bail.
Ms Bell is due to appear at Sutherland Local Court via audiovisual link on September 17.
Earlier
A woman will face court today after several vehicles, including a police car, were allegedly rammed and a police officer was injured in a Sutherland car park.
Police said, about 4.45pm yesterday (Thursday) the woman drove a white Mitsubishi Pajero into the car park at the southern end of Eton Street.
“It’s alleged the woman, and only occupant of the vehicle, increased her speed as she drove around the carpark and crashed into several parked vehicles,” a spokesman said.
“Numerous commuters in the car park started to film the incident and police were contacted.
“The woman allegedly drove into a parked hatchback and pushed it for several metres while the driver was seated in the vehicle.
“An officer from Sutherland Police Area Command attended and started to follow the Mitsubishi. The woman then reversed her vehicle into the police car causing minor damage.
“The woman continued driving and struck another parked vehicle and stopped.
“A police vehicle attached to the Rescue Squad attended and the officer driving parked behind the Mitsubishi.
“The Sutherland police officer then smashed windows in the Mitsubishi and attempted to open the driver’s side door.
“The woman produced a pair of secateurs which she allegedly waved around until the officer tried to take hold of them, suffering a laceration to a finger on his left hand.
“The 38-year-old woman was removed from the vehicle, arrested and conveyed to Sutherland Police Station. She was subsequently transferred to Sutherland Hospital for mandatory tests and an assessment.
“The injured officer was also treated at hospital for the laceration to his index finger and released.
“The woman was returned to Sutherland Police Station and charged with two counts of predatory driving, assault police officer in execution of duty cause actual bodily harm, and use etc offensive weapon to prevent lawful detention.
“She was refused bail to appear at Sutherland Local Court on Friday.”