Broken Hill police arrest 27-year-old man following dramatic chase on Silvercity Highway

A 27-year-old man has been refused bail and appeared in Broken Hill Local Court today after leading police on a pursuit that ended when his allegedly stolen vehicle ran out of fuel on the Silvercity Highway.

The dramatic incident unfolded yesterday afternoon when police officers on patrol attempted to stop a silver Ford Territory around 1.30pm on Sunday, August 10.

Police became suspicious of the Ford Territory after routine checks revealed the vehicle had been reported stolen. 

When officers attempted to pull the car over, the driver failed to stop, prompting police to initiate a pursuit along the Silvercity Highway.

The chase came to an abrupt end when the Ford Territory ran out of fuel and came to a stop. The driver exited the vehicle and was arrested a short time later without further incident.

Following the arrest, police conducted a thorough search of both the man and the vehicle, which yielded concerning results. Officers seized a knuckleduster and methylamphetamine from the car.

The man was then subjected to a roadside oral fluid test, which allegedly returned positive readings for both cannabis and methylamphetamine. 

He was subsequently taken to Broken Hill Police Station, where a secondary oral fluid sample was obtained and sent away for further analysis.

The 27-year-old man now faces six serious charges; police pursuit - not stop - drive at speed, drive motor vehicle while licence suspended, possess or use a prohibited weapon without permit, possess prohibited drug

Receive property stolen outside NSW, drive vehicle, illicit drug present in blood.

Police will allege in court that the Ford Territory was stolen from a residential property in Loxton, South Australia, sometime between 9pm on Saturday, August 9, and 4am on Sunday, August 10.

The interstate nature of the alleged theft adds another layer of complexity to the case, with the vehicle travelling hundreds of kilometres from South Australia to the far west New South Wales town of Broken Hill.

Given the seriousness of the charges and the circumstances surrounding the arrest, the man was refused bail following his arrest. He appeared before Broken Hill Local Court on Monday, August 11, to face the multiple charges.

The refusal of bail suggests police may have concerns about the accused being a flight risk or potentially posing a danger to the community if released.

The case highlights the ongoing challenges police face with stolen vehicles crossing state borders and the associated risks posed by drug-affected drivers on regional highways.

The Silvercity Highway is a major arterial road connecting Broken Hill with other regional centres, making it a critical route for both legitimate travel and, unfortunately, criminal activity.

The matter will continue before Broken Hill Local Court as the legal process unfolds.