'I gave them a run for their money': Grandfather, 83, leads police on a 20-minute chase after 'speeding through a COVID-19 checkpoint' - but he claims he did nothing wrong
- A grandfather who led police on a 20-minute chase has insisted he is innocent
- Stephen Hall, 83, allegedly sped through an army stop north-west of Perth
- Western Australia split up into nine different regions to stop spread of virus
- Officers pursued him for an hour and a half before finally puncturing his tyres
- Mr Hall claimed he did stop and insisted police pay for his tyre replacements
- Here’s how to help people impacted by Covid-19
Grandfather Stephen Hall, 83, has led police on a 20-minute chase after allegedly speeding through a COVID-19 checkpoint
A grandfather who led police on a 20-minute chase after allegedly speeding through a COVID-19 checkpoint has insisted he is innocent.
Stephen Hall, 83, allegedly sped through an army road stop at Morangup, north-west of Perth on Monday afternoon.
Mr Hall said officers pursued him for an hour and a half through the town of Toodyay before they finally punctured his tyres using a stinger.
The grandfather, who said he was on his way to see a friend in the town, claimed he had stopped for police at the checkpoint and given them his licence.
Police allege the driver was told he was not allowed to pass through, but accelerated through the checkpoint regardless.
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Mr Hall's jeep has been impounded in the nearby town of Northam after all four of its tyres were punctured
'An officer at the far end of the checkpoint also signalled for the driver to stop, however the vehicle continued,' a Western Australia police spokesperson said.
The state has been split up into nine different regions to prevent the spread of the coronavirus - with fines of $50,000 in place for crossing their borders without an essential reason.
'I gave him everything. [They said] "where are you going" and I said "Toodyay - I'm coming back in an hour or so,"' Mr Hall told 9News.
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'When they found out I was 83 years of age, there was a young girl who said "you're joking" and I said "no I'm not."'
Mr Hall's jeep has been impounded in the nearby town of Northam after all four of its tyres were punctured.
He believes police owe him a new set of tyres and he did nothing wrong.
Officers pursued him for an hour and a half through the town of Toodyay before they finally punctured his tyres using a stinger on rural Lovers Lane
'I gave them a run for their money - they've never had a run like that I don't think,' he said.
'I've done nothing wrong - I just put my foot down.'
Mr Hall said he plans to fight the charges in court, where he will appear at a later date.
