A Wardell woman was allegedly high on the drug ice when she failed to stop in a police pursuit at up to 145 km/h at Ballina in April which was captured on dashcam.
Highway patrol officers were patrolling North Ballina as part of the statewide operation ‘tortoise’ on April 16, when they allegedly saw Tamika Jayne Glass travel at excessive speed through a roundabout on Tamarind Drive.
Police followed the silver Mitsubishi Lancer driven by Ms Glass and activated their lights and sirens near the intersection of Flathead Lane, Cumbalum, but she allegedly failed to stop.
‘The vehicle continued without slowing, despite all warning devices, lights and siren activated, and began to accelerate,’ police facts stated.
A pursuit was initiated and radioed in by police.
‘The vehicle continued in a north direction negotiating a sweeping right hand bend, crossing over a painted island continuing to accelerate up to a maximum speed of 145 km/h in the signposted 80 km/h area.’
After allegedly travelling for about another two kilometres, the Mitsubishi came to a stop and it is alleged when Ms Glass couldn’t produce her licence she laughed about the situation.
‘It was funny…If I wanted a pursuit I would have kept going,’ police allege she said.
The entire pursuit was captured on the dash camera of the highway patrol vehicle.
A roadside drug test on Ms Glass returned a positive reading for methylamphetamine (ice).
When police spoke to the passenger in the Mitsubishi it is alleged the woman said she feared for her life.
‘I gripped my seat belt and felt like I was gonna die,’ police allege the woman said.
During a search of the Lancer police allegedly located a small clear resealable bag containing a crystalline substance police allege was ice and a fold out pocket knife.
Ms Glass was arrested and after a second drug test returned a positive reading for methylamphetamine, her licence was suspended and she was granted conditional bail.
She was charged with not stopping during a police pursuit, driving recklessly, furiously or at a speed or manner dangerous and exceeding the speed limit by more than 45km/h.
Police anticipate laying a further charge against Ms Glass when the results of the second drug test are returned
When she failed to appear at Lismore Local Court on May 25, a warrant was issued and she was arrested when she attended Ballina police station voluntarily on Monday.
Ms Glass was refused bail and appeared at Lismore Local Court on Tuesday where Magistrate David Heilpern referred her to the MERIT Magistrates Early Referral Into Treatment program.
Her matters were adjourned until August 17, when Ms Glass will appear via videolink unless granted bail.
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