A police officer pinned between two cars and an alleged attempted gangland hit that led to an investigator being attacked in hospital headed up a night of chaos across Sydney’s suburbs overnight.
Riot police were patrolling on Juno Parade in Punchbowl about 8.40pm when they spotted a Toyota CHR that had been allegedly stolen from Riverwood.
The Toyota stopped in traffic at the intersection with Punchbowl Road, and when a police sergeant approached the car to arrest the driver, the car allegedly accelerated, pinning the officer between it and the police vehicle.
Two police officers have been injured in separate incidents in a chaotic night in Sydney’s south-west. (9News)
The officer fired his gun three times and hit the Toyota before it drove off.
Paramedics treated the 39-year-old police officer for injuries to his lower leg and he was taken to hospital in a stable condition.
He has since been released, though he suffered major ligament damage.
Just after 9.15pm, police were called to Thorn Street, Ryde, after reports of an injured man walking along the street.
One man has been charged and another remains under police guard in hospital. (9News)
Officers found the Toyota CHR abandoned on Richard Johnson Crescent before locating a bloodied man, believed to be the driver, in the front yard of a home on Squires Street.
The 32-year-old man was taken to hospital in a stable condition, where he remains under police guard.
He had suffered two gunshot wounds, one to the right sholder and one to his right wrist.
Detective Superintendent Rod Hart said the man would be charged with serious offences after surgery, and that the police shooting would be reviewed.
Hart said the sergeant had “grave fears for his life” on being pinned.
“It was his decision at that time to fire those shots, which I believe did save his life,” he said.
Hart said the alleged car thief was known to police but had no organised crime links.
‘All the hallmarks of a gangland hit’
In a separate, unlinked incident later that night, at about 11.30pm, gunfire rang out in a public place shooting on Campbell Road, Chester Hill.
Police were told several shots were fired from a black ute into another car.
Hart said the attackers were two men dressed in black, wearing balaclavas, and armed with a handgun.
Multiple crime scenes have been established. (9News)
Both cars left the scene before police arrived.
At about 11.35pm, police were told a 26-year-old man had arrived at Auburn Hospital with gunshot wounds.
Officers found a Mercedes with multiple bullet holes in it, in the hospital carpark.
Police tried to speak to a man in the emergency department, but he allegedly assaulted the 58-year-old chief inspector, repeatedly punching him in the head.
Investigations are underway. (9News)
Hart alleged it was an “unprovoked” and “cowardly” attack.
The inspector and hospital security arrested the 30-year-old man, who was charged with assaulting police and refused bail to appear in court today.
The police officer was treated for a laceration to his head.
The 26-year-old injured man remains in a critical condition.
Hart said both the 26-year-old and the 30-year-old were well known to police.
“At this stage, we believe they are associates,” he said.
He said the 30-year-old had been the driver of the Mercedes and had taken the 26-year-old to hospital.
The younger man, Hart said, was known to have organised crime links.
“It does have all the hallmarks of a gangland hit,” he said.
Anybody with information about the above incidents is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or online.
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