A man has been charged after holding a father and his toddler hostage as well as shooting at police during a two-and-a-half-hour siege in Melbourne’s west earlier this week.
A 26-year-old man from Snake Valley has today been charged with a slew of offences after Tuesday’s incident in Weir Views.
Police noticed an allegedly stolen car, believed to have been taken in a carjacking from a 70-year-old woman in Snake Valley earlier that day, in Melton about 3.40pm.
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The car was followed to Leon Drive in Weir Views, where a man got out and allegedly fired shots at police. No officers were injured.
He then stormed a nearby home while father-of-five Ali and his one-year-old son were still inside.
Ali told 9News he was taking a nap when he woke to find a man had allegedly barricaded himself in his daughter’s bedroom.
The area was locked down as police spent hours negotiating with the man.
Ali and his son were eventually freed through a smashed window in the front of the house and were carried to safety by officers.
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They were unharmed.
The man once again allegedly fired at police and officers returned shots.
A police dog was sent in to help with an arrest which eventually took place after 6pm.
The 26-year-old was taken to hospital under police guard for a dog bite injury and has since been charged with 25 offences including five counts of assaulting police, five counts of discharging a firearm reckless to safety of police officer, two counts of reckless conduct endangering life, two counts of false imprisonment and making a threat to kill.
He will face the Melbourne Magistrates’ Court this evening.