A man and a woman have been charged after allegedly stealing two cars, threatening residents with a samurai sword and violently assaulting a man in north Queensland.
Police alleged a man, 23, a woman, 20, and another female passenger caught a taxi to Pallarenda near Townsville at 4:30pm on Friday.
When they arrived, the man allegedly punched the driver in the face while the 20-year-old woman in the backseat took out a knife.
The driver got out of the car and the trio drove away. The car was found abandoned a short time later at Jezzine Barracks.
About 9:30pm the same man and woman who carjacked the taxi driver threatened another man with a samurai sword and drove off in his car, police have alleged.
A short time later police officers saw the car being driven along Palmerston Street with the male driver allegedly waving a samurai sword out the window.
Officers tried to stop the vehicle, following it until it crossed onto the wrong side of the road.
About 10:00pm, the car was driven onto vacant land and the pair fled on foot.
Police then heard reports of a man trying to barricade himself inside a house backing onto the vacant land.
Officers forced their way into the home and arrested the man and woman.
Inside the home, they found 69-year-old Brenton Philp, who had suffered critical injuries after allegedly being seriously assaulted by the pair.
He was taken to hospital with multiple head injuries.
The 23-year-old man has been charged with armed robbery in company with violence, unlawful use of a motor vehicle, grievous bodily harm, common assault, dangerous operation of a vehicle, entering a dwelling with intent and wilful damage.
The 20-year-old woman has been charged with armed robbery in company with violence, unlawful use of a motor vehicle, grievous bodily harm, wilful damage and enter a dwelling with intent.
Both are due to appear in the Townsville Magistrates Court today.
