Driver is denied bail after movie-like car chase

A man who early yesterday morning allegedly took the police on a wild, movie-like car chase, was today denied bail after pleading not guilty to a string of charges. Police in court explained how George Azzopardi, 38, from Naxxar, was flagged to a halt by the police but rather than obeying the order he allegedly rammed a police car. Then, throwing all caution to the wind, the man sped off, leading the officers on a car chase through the streets of Birzebbuġa, Żejtun and Żurrieq. The man allegedly drove in a reckless manner, going the wrong way down certain streets, endangering the life of other drivers or pedestrians who happened to chance upon his path. When his pursuers finally managed to lay hands upon him, the man was escorted to the police station where he claimed that he had been assaulted by armed men. Today, the man was arraigned on charges of having violently resisted arrest, of having threatened and assaulted police officers and of attempted grievous bodily harm against the three policemen who were carrying out their duty. Other charges concerned his reckless driving which resulted in damage to third party property, his refusal to obey police orders as well as his...