Two-hour car chase ends in police assault, court hears

The defendant and two friends even swapped vehicles to try to escape

An Emirati man has been accused of assaulting a police officer after a two-hour car chase.

The accused and his two friends sped off in a Lexus after officers from Al Qusais police station attempted to pull them over.

Traffic police from Al Barsha and Bur Dubai police stations joined in the pursuit following a request from colleagues.

After an hour-long chase, the defendants ditched their first vehicle before speeding off in a second one.

The pursuit continued to a residential neighbourhood in Al Barsha where two of the men were caught, with one lashing out at police.

“We were informed that the driver and two passengers in a Lexus refused to stop and sped off,” an Emirati policeman told Dubai Criminal Court.

The chase took place on December 13 last year, with a number of officers providing back up to the first patrol car.

The men abandoned their first car on a hard shoulder. Officers later spotted them in a Mercedes and tracked them down.

“One of them ran way while the other two were restrained,” an officer told the hearing.

“They were in an intoxicated state. It seemed as if they had taken hallucinogenic substances.”

As officers tried to take the two men into custody, one kicked out at the arresting officer. Police later found drugs inside the Mercedes.

A 31-year-old man was charged with assault and his friend was charged with reckless driving.

“During questioning, both of them refused to say anything about their third friend who was with them in the car,” said the officer.

A verdict in the case is expected on June 27.