Bail for accused in South Island chase

Police cars at the scene at the end of the chase at Waikouaiti. Photo ODT
Police cars at the scene at the end of the chase at Waikouaiti. Photo ODT
A 20-year-old who led police on a 730km chase down the South Island has been granted bail.

Michael George Massie, of Richmond, was arrested in Waikouaiti last week following a pursuit which began in Nelson, during which a Subaru station wagon was reported to have reached speeds of more than 150km near Palmerston.

Massie was charged with driving while disqualified, dangerous driving and failing to stop for police.

Today before the Dunedin District Court, Judge Michael Crosbie granted the defendant bail to live in Invercargill with his mum.

Conditions of bail included: not to drive, not to enter licensed premises and a curfew between 7pm and 7am.

Any breach of bail would result in Massie being locked up, Judge Crosbie said.

The chase began on Friday when Massie allegedly failed to stop for police at 1am near Nelson and again, driving away at high speed at Christchurch.

"A traffic unit attempted to stop the speeding vehicle in Palmerston this afternoon but it fled in a southern direction down State Highway 1," police said.

After the speeding vehicle was spotted about 3.10pm, police commented that they had followed it for a short time "but the motorist's driving was deemed too dangerous for the matter to continue", police said.

Dunedin police were preparing to lay road spikes to stop the south-bound vehicle, but it turned off State Highway 1 at Waikouaiti and apparently parked in a quiet spot, on Matanaka Dr, between a grove of pine trees and the beach.

The vehicle Massie was allegedly driving was found by police about 4.40pm, but no-one was inside.

Officers monitored the area and spotted the man, wearing a blue T-shirt, and with his cap on backwards, walking across a field back towards Matanaka Dr, holding a soft drink.

A few minutes later, Massie was caught and arrested, with the help of a police dog and dog handler.

A police spokeswoman said a good deal of effort had been required to collect information about the incidents, because the car chases had passed through three police districts.

Several police pursuits were called off after high speeds were reached.

Massie will be back in court next month.

 

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