Queensland pair arrested after manhunt in South Australia
Two Queenslanders who were on the run in outback South Australia, having allegedly entered the state illegally in a stolen vehicle, have been arrested after a major police manhunt.
Police locked down the SA outback town of Leigh Creek during the search for the pair. (Photo: ABC)
Alex Blake and his girlfriend were arrested just after midnight after the police pursuit, which began 11 hours earlier and forced the lockdown of the far-north town of Leigh Creek.
Blake, 28, and the woman, 30, who police have not named, had allegedly dodged a border checkpoint entering South Australia before stealing petrol from Innaminka and Hawker.
The pair was allegedly travelling in a stolen Toyota Hilux ute.
Police said they were spotted by the police helicopter in the northern Flinders Wednesday night.
After being seen on a pastoral station southeast of Leigh Creek, police moved in and arrested them without incident.
Police said Blake and the woman would be taken to Port Augusta and charged with border breach, acts to endanger life, driving to evade police and petrol thefts.
They are expected to face the Port Augusta Magistrates Court today.
SA Police said the man would likely be extradited to Queensland once the SA charges have been dealt with.
– ABC / Matthew Smith and Bension Siebert
