A man who early yesterday morning allegedly took the police on a wild, movie-like car chase, was today denied bail after pleading not guilty to a string of charges.

Police in court explained how George Azzopardi, 38, from Naxxar, was flagged to a halt by the police but rather than obeying the order he allegedly rammed a police car. Then, throwing all caution to the wind, the man sped off, leading the officers on a car chase through the streets of Birzebbuġa, Żejtun and Żurrieq.

The man allegedly drove in a reckless manner, going the wrong way down certain streets, endangering the life of other drivers or pedestrians who happened to chance upon his path.

When his pursuers finally managed to lay hands upon him, the man was escorted to the police station where he claimed that he had been assaulted by armed men.

Today, the man was arraigned on charges of having violently resisted arrest, of having threatened and assaulted police officers and of attempted grievous bodily harm against the three policemen who were carrying out their duty.

Other charges concerned his reckless driving which resulted in damage to third party property, his refusal to obey police orders as well as his filing of a false report after being taken to the police station.

The court was told that this was not the first time that the arrested man, charged with being a relapser, had made a false report with the police.

A police order is an order to be obeyed at once, declared magistrate Joseph Mifsud presiding over the arraignment. After having heard the prosecution describe the events which ultimately led to the arrest and after hearing the arrested man plead not guilty to the charges, the magistrate remarked that “The police are there to protect all law-abiding citizens residing in our country.”

The court turned down the request for bail, further pointing out that it condemned all irresponsible behaviour by individuals who deemed themselves to be above the law and who, through their actions, were a menace to the public.

Inspector Jonathan Cassar prosecuted.

Lawyer Noel Bartolo was legal aid.