South Australian Man Detained Over Highway Crime Spree

South Australian Man Detained Over Highway Crime Spree
Police check cars at a road block north of Port Augusta, South Australia, on June 28, 2002. (ADELAIDE ADVERTISER/AFP via Getty Images)
AAP
By AAP
9/19/2020
Updated:
9/19/2020

A man has been detained over a crime spree north of Adelaide that included a carjacking, forcing other vehicles from the road, and breaking into a home to ask for a blanket.

The bizarre rampage began on the night of Sept. 19 with police called to a disturbance at Freeling but finding the suspect had fled before they arrived.

Just after 9 p.m., a family in a Mitsubishi ute travelling on the Horrocks Highway just north of Tarlee reported being forced from the road by silver Rodeo, causing their vehicle to roll several times, a Police statement read.

The 30-year-old man, 32-year-old woman and 10-week-old baby girl all received minor injuries in the crash.

About 10 minutes later, a family travelling in a Mitsubishi four-wheel-drive reported having their car stolen, after a silver Rodeo on the wrong side of the road crashed into them.

The man driving the Rodeo allegedly assaulted the male driver before stealing the car.

It’s also alleged he bit a woman on the arm several times before making his escape.

The woman managed to remove her four-month-old baby from the car just before he drove off.

The stolen Mitsubishi was found abandoned in a paddock north of Stockport but an extensive search of the area failed to find the suspect.

Early on Sunday, a woman then reported a man had entered her home asking for a blanket to keep warm.

The 22-year-old was arrested there without further incident and has been taken to the Royal Adelaide Hospital for a mental health assessment.

Police say he’s expected to be charged with a string of offences including aggravated robbery,  several counts of acts to endanger life and assault causing harm.