An investigation will be launched on whether two men who attempted to ram a junior officer with a car have links to organised crime gangs.
The constable fired a shot at the car as it sped away following a confrontation in an underground car park of a unit block St Peters, in Sydney’s inner west.
Police were called to the Princes Highway unit block, following reports of a break and enter about 1.15am on Sunday.
When police approached the two men, they got into a white Volkswagen Golf and tried to drive off.
When police tried to stop the car, the vehicle drove directly at a constable, reaching a ‘close proximity’ before the officer fired a single shot at the car.
After speeding away from the scene, the car was found on fire in an underground carpark in Harris St Pyrmont
It then sped away from the scene.
Police are unaware if one of the men in the Volkswagen Golf was hit when the constable discharged his firearm.
‘It’s very confronting to be driven at and it’s not a pleasant time to discharge a firearm for any officer,’ Detective Acting Superintendent Ben Kennis, Commander of the Inner West Police Area Command told reporters.
Following the confrontation, the vehicle, which carried plates which have been reported as stolen, was involved in a short pursuit in Rozelle, before it was found on fire in an underground carpark in Harris St Pyrmont, about 2.7km away from Rozelle.
Over 100 residents were forced to evacuate the complex.
Firefighters extinguished the blaze in within an hour.
Two crime scenes have been established at the St Peters and Pyrmont site, with forensic experts combing through the Volkswagen Golf.
No injuries have been reported.
Detective Acting Superintendent Kennis couldn’t confirm whether the two men were known to police at the time, but said potential links to organised crime would be looked into.
‘That will certainly be a line of inquiry that we will pursue.’
‘It’s very confronting to be driven at and it’s not a pleasant time to discharge a firearm for any officer,’ Detective Acting Superintendent Ben Kennis, Commander of the Inner West Police Area Command said
‘At this stage, the identity of the offenders is unknown, so there is no information in relation to any links to organised crime but that certainly will form part of the investigation,’ he said.
He said the officers at the scene had ‘acted on their suspicion’ when confronting them.
‘They called on them to stop, and when they ran that’s when police pursued them,’ he said.
Detective Acting Superintendent Kennis said police could discharge their firearm in circumstances when they believe there is a threat to their life.
He said the constable who discharged his gun will be ‘spoken to and those details will come out in the investigation’.
He also said he had spoken to the constable.
‘I spoke with that police officer this morning and they are doing quite well.
‘(They) haven’t slept much however hopefully with some sleep and some exercise they will be feeling much better.
‘But we will support that officer and wrap a lot of support around them.’
He said the alarm was raised by a resident of the St Peters unit block after two men were seen acting suspiciously.
‘The front foyer window of the unit block was smashed on arrival,’ he said.
‘We’re unsure if they gained entry to that unit block, however, at this stage nothing was stolen.’
Police have urged anyone with information, CCTV or dashcam footage to contact police, or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
