A Fremantle mechanic who tackled the man accused of ramming a parking inspector with his car has spoken of the chaos leading up to the man's arrest.
Klem Christensen, 35, had just finished a job and was preparing an invoice in his van when he heard a car come screeching around the corner on Reuben Street around 3.30pm Wednesday.
He told WAtoday the driver raced up the street, nearly hitting another car, but became trapped by a dead-end.
"Police were right up behind him, he was stuck," Mr Christensen said.
"He wasn't getting out of the car and police smashed a window with batons and dragged him out."
Mr Christensen said the man then escaped from police officers and ran up the street yelling.
"Police yelled out, 'Taser, Taser' but he just kept running," he said.
The man ran towards Mr Christensen and shouted at him to get out of the way.
"He ran on the other side of the van and I gave him a good hip and shoulder... I think anyone would have done that," he said.
"He was quite scrawny and I eat a lot of pies and chocolate.
"Police then nailed him to the ground. "
Police have since charged 42-year-old man, Christopher Lee, with a string of offences in relation to the hit and run and subsequent chase through Fremantle.
During his first court appearance on Thursday, Mr Lee tried to escape from the dock at Fremantle Magistrates Court but was tackled immediately by three security guards.
He faces 12 charges 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, and will reappear in court via video link from custody on Friday.