A driver accused of ramming a police car in Bourke Street in central Melbourne yesterday was on bail for other charges, the Melbourne Magistrates' Court has been told.
Jackson Ireland is facing a string of charges including stealing a car, reckless conduct endangering life and possessing ecstasy and methylamphetamine.
The 23-year-old homeless man is accused of mounting the footpath during the busy afternoon peak, driving towards police and ramming a patrol car.
Police say a gun and a fake firearm were seized from the car, and a taser was used during his arrest.
The court heard Mr Ireland was on bail for other charges, which were not detailed during the hearing.
A legal aid lawyer said there were concerns for his mental health, although he has not been formally diagnosed with a condition.
He did not apply for bail and will return to court later this month.
Video filmed by witnesses yesterday showed police pinning a man to the ground as traffic and trams passed by.
No-one else was injured.
The man was arrested near Elizabeth St, close to the popular shopping mall where six people died in January when a driver mowed down pedestrians.
Since that incident, and terrorist attacks involving vehicles overseas, concrete bollards have been placed around busy areas of Melbourne's CBD to prevent similar attacks.
Police Chief Commissioner Graham Ashton said work to install permanent bollards was underway and backed up by a strong police presence and security cameras.
"You've always got to have balance with these sorts of things — you can't turn the city into a fortress," he said.
"There's a lot of trade happening, you've got to get delivery vans, you've got to get other vehicles in."
Targeted ramming attacks 'not going away'
The issue of ramming was already on the agenda today, with new laws to better protect police and emergency service workers introduced in the Victorian Parliament.
Police Deputy Commissioner Andrew Crisp said a police car was rammed in Werribee on Tuesday.
"In 2015 there were 44 incidents, last year we saw 190, already this year we've seen over 100," he said.
"We know its an issue, we know it's not going away."
The new laws would make it illegal for someone to intentionally use a vehicle as a weapon against a police officer, or use driving to threaten an emergency worker, custodial officer or youth justice worker.
Damaging an emergency service vehicle would also be an offence if the legislation passed.
Police Minister Lisa Neville said the Government there had been an increase in police cars being rammed.
"Police have been telling us that they need [these laws] in order to get a stop to this behaviour and to … anyone who is participating in seeking to harm a police officer, but also other emergency workers as well," she said.
