Three men have appeared in the ACT Magistrates Court after they allegedly chased and rammed a police officer's car when he found them waiting outside his house.
The court heard Bradley Booth, 29, who police allege was the driver, was a target of a new task force set up to investigate dangerous driving, stolen cars and burglaries.
The officer at the centre of the chase is part of that task force.
Documents tendered to the court allege the officer arrived home after 1am to see a car with no visible registration plates, sitting outside his house.
He told other police he became suspicious as the car lights went on and off, and it drove away with no headlights.
The officer gave an account of how he first followed the car, before it turned and chased him, repeatedly following closely, overtaking and stopping suddenly and trying to run into him and cut him off as he tried to get to a nearby police station.
The officer said much of the chase was at high speed, in much slower zones.
The three men — Mr Booth, John Kahn, 33, and David Miller, 34 — all faced court on Thursday, charged with participating in a criminal gang, and using the car as a weapon.
Mr Booth did not apply for bail and was remanded in custody.
Mr Khan, who had been sitting in the back seat, did seek bail, with his lawyer Stephanie Beckedahl arguing he was merely present during the offences.
"We do not know if he was a willing or unwilling participant," Ms Beckedahl said.
Prosecutor Anthony Williamson told the court it should be noted he was outside a police officer's house in the early hours of the morning.
He asked the court if Mr Kahn was innocent, why did he cover his face?
Mr Khan interrupted several times, as he appeared by video link, at one point telling the court: "Excuse me, this is pathetic."
He also accused police of lying and denied trying to run away.
"You **** hit us first," he said.
"I'll get the video footage."
Chief Magistrate Lorraine Walker told the court she was not persuaded to give him bail, mainly on the grounds he had a long history of failing to answer bail.
But David Miller, 34, who police allege was in the front passenger seat, fared better in his application.
Police have alleged he appeared to point a dark object at the officer being pursued, which the officer said he feared was a gun, and later there was a flash.
But Chief Magistrate Walker said there was no evidence about what had really happened.
Mr Miller pleaded not guilty.
His lawyer told the court he had been picked up by the others a few minutes before the chase began.
She said he had asked for a lift home because he had been drinking and she urged the court to grant him bail.
"If he is indeed a passenger in the wrong place at the wrong time he will spend some time in custody while this is resolved," she said.
Chief Magistrate Walker said it was a difficult decision.
"What I am left with is a well-renowned criminal sitting in a car with another well-renowned criminal outside a police officer's home," she said.
But she said he had an impeccable record for returning to court, and released him on strict conditions.
Mr Miller will be back in court in October, with the other two to return in September.
