A man who led police on a “furious pushbike chase” in Nowra and then resisted arrest after crashing into a swamp, has been fined $200 and placed on a good behaviour bond.
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Damien Berkovic, 39, of no fixed address, pleaded guilty to six offences before Magistrate Michael Stoddart Nowra Local Court on Friday, September 21, including possessing a prohibited drug, resisting arrest, riding a bicycle furiously, not wearing a helmet, being in custody of a knife and possessing equipment for administering a prohibited drug.
Court papers said police were patrolling Kalandar Street Nowra around 12.15am on December 5 last year wanting to speak with Berkovic when they spotted him on an orange Trek mountain bike.
Police said he “sped up dramatically” as he headed east trying to get away. They said Berkovic “increased speed” and was “pedalling hard” as he crossed a nature strip and rode down Warramunga Street on the wrong side of the road, without lights.
He rode along Seccombe Street before turning into Lyrebird Sports Park in a bid to evade officers. Police said Berkovic rode the bike into a “swampy” area before falling off and continuing to try and get away on foot.
Officers arrested him and found a 20cm silver bladed knife strapped to his right ankle in a black sheath. He told police it was for “his own protection”.
Police also found a small black bum bag nearby which contained two small heat sealed plastic bags which had a crystal-like substance inside. Testing later revealed it was 0.89 grams of methylamphetamine or ice. Officers also found as glass water pipe, used for administering drugs.
Magistrate Stoddart fined Berkovic $200 for riding a bicycle furiously and not wearing a helmet and placed him on a 12-month good behaviour bond for the other offences.
Read more: Court/Crime
