A man suffered multiple gunshot wounds to his upper body in a nearly two-hour-long police chase through Melbourne in an allegedly stolen tow truck.
Acting Deputy Commissioner Regional Operations Robert Hill said the chase started about 3.15pm yesterday in South Morang and the man was shot and arrested about 5:00pm on Wright Street in Sunshine.
He said during the pursuit multiple police vehicles were rammed and the tow truck drove erratically, at high speed, on the wrong side of the road and went through red lights.
The tow truck crashed into a tree in Wright Street in Sunshine, west of the CBD, at about 5:00pm.
Police Special Operations Group and the Critical Incident Response Team arrived at the scene and the male driver was shot by police during the arrest.
Acting Deputy Commissioner Hill said the 35-year-old man from Footscray had a history with police but at this stage there were no linkages to terrorism.
He said it was still under investigation how many shots were fired during the incident.
"He [driver of tow truck] was not armed with a weapon per se put he was certainly using his vehicle as a … weapon."
"Our police members did an amazing job in very, very difficult circumstances."
He said the police members' lives were endangered during the pursuit.
In a statement yesterday, Victoria Police said the driver was initially treated at the scene, before being transported to hospital in a serious condition.
"I can report that he [the tow truck driver] is now in a stable condition and expected to survive as a consequence of those gun shots," Acting Deputy Commissioner Hill said.
He said the situation could have ended in tragedy.
"We could have had people seriously injured, members of the community quite possibly could have been killed but Victoria Police have intervened and resolved this matter in a safe manner."
He said he was expecting the man would face significant criminal charges that should bring a custodial sentence.
In a statement, Victoria Police said Professional Standards Command will oversee the investigation, as per procedure following a police shooting.
The man remained under police guard in hospital on Tuesday afternoon.
