Man who stole police car, assaulted officers to face multiple charges, including rape
A man has been charged with multiple offences, including rape and assault, after he was shot by police in far north Queensland.
A man has been charged with assaulting police and stealing a police vehicle. (AAP Image/Darren England)
Police were called to an incident with a distressed woman in Cairns early on Wednesday morning.
Officers were approached by the 21-year-old man, who allegedly threatened them with multiple weapons before stealing a marked police car.
It sparked a pursuit to the nearby suburb of Woree, where police stopped the car.
The man was shot by an officer and taken to Cairns Hospital in a stable condition.
He has since been charged with multiple offences including four counts of rape and three counts of assault with intent to commit rape over alleged incidents involving a woman in her 40s.
He was also charged with serious assault of a police officer while armed, wilful damage of police property, stealing, dangerous operation of a motor vehicle.
The shooting is subject to an investigation by the Ethical Standards Command.
