Drink-driver charged after abandoning unregistered car

A 25-year-old Griffith man will face the ACT Magistrates Court today after he was apprehended by an ACT General Duties Patrol early this morning in Garran.

Police had been attending a reported disturbance at a Phillip address around 1.30am today (Tuesday, September 16) when they saw a man running from the scene. The same man was later seen driving a red Honda Integra from a nearby carpark.

Police activated warning lights and siren but the driver failed to stop. Checks conducted by police also found the Honda to be unregistered.

The pursuit was terminated after a short distance travelled and police began patrolling the immediate area. The red Honda was located a short time later abandoned with body damage and the driver’s door open at the intersection of Kitchener Street and Gilmore Crescent in Garran.

Police continued to patrol and located the alleged offender, who was placed under arrest. The driver, who only holds a NSW Learner’s licence, returned a positive result to a roadside screening test for alcohol, with a further test at Woden Police Station returning a reading of 0.149.

He was issued with an Immediate Suspension Notice and will face court today for the drink-driving offence, plus a range of traffic-related offences.