A MAN allegedly behind the wheel of a stolen car remains in custody accused of ramming a police car, crashing, and fleeing into Lake Macquarie bushland.
Police allegedly spotted a stolen Mazda E2000 pull into a driveway on Oakdale Road at Gateshead just after midnight on Monday.
Police used their vehicle to block the Mazda from leaving but as an officer approached it, the Mazda allegedly reversed harshly and slammed into the side of the police car.
The Mazda took off and collided with two parked cars on Kopa Street at Whitebridge, police said.
The man allegedly dumped the Mazda and fled into bushland.
Police captured 35-year-old Scott Dargan after a short foot chase, they said.
Dargan was arrested and taken to a Lake Macquarie police station.
He was charged with illegally using a conveyance, having goods in his custody, driving whilst disqualified, assaulting police, negligent driving, driving recklessly or furiously, not providing particulars and two counts of resisting police.
He fronted Belmont Local Court later on Monday, where he made no application for bail and magistrate Stephen Olischlager formally refused his release.
Dargan will face court again later this week.
