By Hamish Heard
A MAN who allegedly abused a mother pushing a pram before hooning his car through a crowded car park received the shock of his life last week.
Seven uniformed police officers, a journalist and 600 striking teachers witnessed the incident.
Leading Senior Constable Heath Merry said the man abused the woman in her 30s before speeding away and doing a series of burnouts through the Central Square Shopping Centre car park on Wednesday.
“He went through the pedestrian crossing and almost ran over the woman and then he turned back and gave her the bird and started abusing her and threatened her before driving off like an absolute idiot,” Sen Const Merry said.
“The car was out of control so, considering the number of people who were around we were pretty lucky nobody was seriously injured or killed,” he said.
The incident led to a dramatic chase on foot that ended in police arresting a man after he parked his car.
“You would have to question the intelligence of a bloke who would fishtail his car around in a confined area let alone in front of hundreds of people including seven or eight coppers and a journalist,” Sen Const Merry said.
The driver was taken to Altona North Police station for questioning, leaving his girlfriend and dog to walk home.
A 27-year-old Altona Meadows has had his car impounded and faces a number of charges.
