Man shot by police after crash now hit with serious charges

The man shot by police after a car crash on the Sunshine Coast has been hit with a string of criminal charges including possession of a weapon.

Officers were called to reports an MG hatchback had crashed near the Sippy Downs exit of the Sunshine Motorway about 11.40am on Wednesday.

The small car was driven off from the scene and continued to Nambour Connection Road, where the driver entered a Toyota Hilux.

That vehicle was found by police a short time later on Woombye Palmwoods Road in Woombye, where the 32-year-old got out of the vehicle and allegedly approached officers with a gun.

He was shot by an officer, then taken to Sunshine Coast University Hospital in a stable condition.

The 32-year-old, from North Arm, was charged with seriously assaulting police while armed, unlawful possession of a weapon, going armed to cause fear, common assault and possession of methamphetamine.

He was also accused of dangerous operation of a motor vehicle and unauthorised possession of explosives, relating to the ammunition.

“Our police were confronted with an armed and dangerous individual, and they should be commended for their bravery,” police union president Shane Prior said.

“This male person is lucky that he is able to be in a hospital and recover from his injuries because it was because of his actions that he found himself in the situation that he did.”

The man was due to appear at Maroochydore Magistrates Court on Thursday.

Police alleged the 32-year-old had brandished the same gun during a neighbourhood dispute the day before he was shot.

The shooting was the second in two days in which officers shot a civilian they suspected was armed.

On Tuesday, a 21-year-old man was killed in Tingalpa during a mental health-related welfare check.

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