Teenage boy allegedly goes on wild Derby rampage in stolen vehicle after ‘ramming’ police car

A Derby teenager allegedly went on a wild rampage in a stolen car, injuring two police officers, damaging several properties and stealing valuables, while on bail last Saturday. The 15-year-old boy faced Broome Children’s Court via video link from Banksia Hill Detention Centre on Friday, October 1, with more than 15 charges to his name. The court was told during the early hours of September 25 in Derby, the boy allegedly broke into Far North Community Services, damaged the internal doors of the property, stole $100 cash and the keys to a Nissan X-Trail, and proceeded to drive the vehicle recklessly through the streets. While on a joy ride, it was alleged the boy rammed into a police car which was on patrol, injuring the two officers inside the vehicle. It is understood the two officers have been unable to return to work since the incident. On the same day, the boy was alleged to have broken into Kimberley School of the Air with intent to commit an offence, and allegedly broke into National Indigenous Australians Agency and damaged the walls and floor of the property. It was also alleged the boy caused damage to a property after crashing the vehicle on Alfonsas Street, then proceeded to trespass on Tyrepower Derby. The boy was later arrested by police, has been remanded in custody at Banksia Hill Detention Centre since and is due to appear in Perth Children’s Court to face 17 charges on Friday, October 8. It is the latest in a string of offences which have seen police officers injured, with an experienced WA police officer taken to Broome Hospital with neck and back injuries after his police car was hit by a child allegedly driving a stolen four-wheel-drive in Fitzroy Crossing. Sergeant Neville Ripp, who had spent more than 20 years as an officer in the region, was inside his vehicle when it was allegedly hit by a stolen Toyota Landcruiser near Fitzroy Crossing Bridge in the early hours of Sunday, September 19. Two Fitzroy Crossing boys, 15 and 16 years old, were charged over the incident. A 12-year-old girl died less than two months ago when a car with seven children crashed near Fitzroy Crossing and just days later three children were critically injured in a similar incident near Wyndham. The incidents prompted a response from WA Police, with special operation Clay seeing extra officers flown to the region to help combat high-volume crime. Kimberley superintendent Craig Parkin said there had been 90 burglaries in Broome and 37 cars stolen in the past three weeks.