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Murder charge for man accused of running over constable
by Michael Ramsey, AAP Perth
A man accused of running over and killing a young West Australian police constable while attempting to avoid arrest has been charged with the officer’s murder.
Constable Anthony Woods, 28, succumbed to his injuries on Sunday night after being placed in an induced coma following the incident on Thursday.
Reagan Ainsley Chown, 23, was charged with multiple offences including committing an act intended to prevent arrest which caused grievous bodily harm and reckless driving to escape police pursuit.
He has since been charged with murder following the officer’s death and is due to face Perth Magistrates Court from custody on Tuesday.
Const Woods and other officers had been following the car, allegedly bearing stolen number plates, through Ascot in Perth’s east about 1am on Thursday.
It came to a stop and as the officers tried to detain the three occupants, Const Woods was hit by the vehicle and dragged underneath.
His fellow officers had to lift the car off him and attempted CPR at the scene before he was rushed to hospital in a critical condition.
Commissioner Col Blanch said Const Woods would be honoured with a full police funeral, but he would speak with the officer’s family first about what they wanted.
Const Woods had just passed his probation with the force, having volunteered at the PCYC before joining the police cadets in 2019 and moving into the recruit squad in 2021.
Mr Blanch read a statement from Const Woods’ wife Emily, who thanked those who went to her husband’s aid and described the family’s shattering loss.
“He was a devoted husband, a loving son, brother and uncle who was taken from this Earth far too soon,” her statement read.
“Anthony will be remembered as a funny, hardworking man who loved the West Coast Eagles and mucking around with his mates.
“He brought light and laughter to every situation and his wicked sense of humour is irreplaceable.”
A 20-year-old woman and 25-year-old man who were allegedly in the stolen car have been released pending further investigation.
Detectives are urging anyone who was near High Wycombe, Belmont and Redcliffe and may have seen a white Holden Cruze sedan or police vehicle travelling with lights and sirens between midnight and 1.30am to contact Crime Stoppers.
