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Man in Mercedes who 'rammed' Fremantle parking inspector arrested after chase

Published: July 6 2017 - 7:28AM

The man accused of ramming a Fremantle parking inspector with his car has been tackled by security guards after trying to escape custody in court on Thursday morning. 

According to Nine News Perth reporter Hannah Sinclair, Christopher Lee had to be restrained by three security guards after trying to jump the glass partition at Fremantle Magistrates Court.

Courtroom could hear Christopher Lee yell, "I was just saying bye to my mate," after he tried to jump the glass in Freo Court. @9NewsPerth

The 42-year-old is accused of ramming a parking inspector with his Mercedes Benz after he was asked to move his illegally parked vehicle.

The Riverton man was allegedly parked in an Australia Post car bay along William Street at 2pm on Wednesday when he was approached by an inspector. 

Mr Lee is alleged to have moved his car into the middle of the road before walking over to the parking inspector and verbally abusing him as he sat in his car. 

" A colleague of the inspector approached the man's vehicle, before the man drove forward, pinning the victim between the inspector's car and the offending vehicle," a police spokeswoman said. 

"He then drove away from the scene."

Around an hour later police noticed a Mercedes driving erratically on Hampton Road in Fremantle and attempted to stop it. 

The car eventually stopped on Reuben Street, with Mr Lee allegedly being aggressive to police before trying to run away. 

A member of the public assisted to stop him. 

Mr Lee has been charged with a string of offences including endangering the life, health or safety of a person, threats to injure, criminal damage, failing to stop, reckless driving, and possession of cannabis and methylamphetamine. 

The parking inspector, a 30-year-old man, received minor injuries. 

The City of Fremantle released a statement on Thursday, labelling the attack as "violent and cowardly".

"Late yesterday afternoon a member of our parking team was injured as he went about his work on William Street in Fremantle," it read. 

"He was taken to hospital and thankfully has been discharged to recover from his injuries at home, which include severe bruising to his legs.

"We understand police have apprehended a man in relation to this incident, which appears to have been a deliberate, violent and cowardly assault using a vehicle as a weapon."

This story was found at: http://www.watoday.com.au/wa-news/man-in-mercedes-who-rammed-fremantle-parking-inspector-arrested-after-chase-20170705-gx5mx9.html