Man wielding imitation gun charged after carjackings, police pursuit

He attended a BP service station in Tarneit on Tuesday and is alleged to have assaulted a staff member at 7.43am when he was told he needed to fill his petrol can. The court heard the employee locked the door to the building and called police when he saw the defendant holding what appeared to be a firearm.

Hart said at 7.50am a man was driving along Tarneit Road and Davies walked in front of his car and forced him to stop.

The court heard the driver fled with his keys when threatened with an imitation firearm. Shortly afterwards, a woman was allegedly forced to stand behind the stationary car, which pinned her down as Davies approached.

Hart said the 48-year-old woman yelled at the woman before getting into her 2013 Mitsubishi wagon, telling her “you need to get out” and “I’m sorry, I’ll buy you a Lamborghini.”

Police allege Davies then sped down the wrong side of the Westgate Highway at Spotswood and sped down Williamstown Road before pulling onto Dryburgh Road in North Melbourne.

There, police allege Davies encountered his next victim, walking in front of a 2015 Hyundai Accent and pointing his imitation firearm through the windshield at the driver.

“The defendant shouted ‘get out of the car’ and then apologized for ruining his day. He stated that he ‘wasn’t going to destroy the car,'” Hart said.

The court heard Davies, who fled in the Hyundai, then entered the Melbourne CBD, honked his horn and swerved before parking on Lonsdale Street.

Allegedly, while reaching for the imitation firearm next to him, he threw the car keys to a member of the public and told him to give it back to the owner.

Hart said police saw the accused man standing on the curb smoking a cigarette and told him to drop his gun before fleeing to the Lancemore Hotel on Crossley Street, near Pellegrini’s Espresso Bar on Bourke Street, at about 8.45am.

As he ran inside, the 48-year-old man pointed the fake gun at a hotel guest, then fled to the staff elevator, where he was arrested by officers from the special operations group, Hart said.

Davies continued to sit on the edge of his hospital bed during the hearing, flanked by two police officers.

Opposing bail, Hart said Davies had put the public at risk of serious injury or death.

The court heard at the time that Davies’ mental health problems had diminished, he was off his medication, was living with schizophrenia, was bipolar and used cannabis and methamphetamine.

“He passed through the Melbourne CBD, risking many lives in the heart of the city,” the officer said.

“We believe his actions did indeed have the potential to kill. Police and the public believed the firearm was real.”

The court heard Davies was vulnerable in custody due to his mental health deterioration and had not been in contact with support services since 2016.

Defense lawyer Felix Best said that his client received voluntary treatment at the hospital, but that involuntary treatment could be ordered if he is released on bail.

Best said Davies had a limited criminal history and had friends and family he could reach out to for support if he was released on bail.

The defendant man then said, “I will never harm any woman or child under any circumstances in my life.”

Judge Donna Bakos refused Davies’ bail application, saying he did not meet the test due to exceptional circumstances.

“This is behavior that creates real terror in society,” he said. “The case against the applicant is quite strong.”

The case will return to court on February 3.

With Alexander Darling

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