Man pleads not guilty to hitting policeman with stolen quad bike

A man who yesterday allegedly hit a policeman with a stolen quad bike was this afternoon remanded in custody, after he pleaded not guilty to 20 counts of traffic related offences, theft and attempted serious injury. Charles Gouder, 41, of Zabbar, was yesterday arrested by Mobile Squad policemen after a chase. He had earlier allegedly been spotted by the injured traffic officer, who signalled him to stop. But he drove on and the policeman called for back-up and gave chase. At one point, when the bikes came alongside each other, the quad bike swerved onto the police motorcycle, causing it to crash. Mr Gouder’s charges include slightly injuring two police officers, stealing a quad bike and number plates, driving the stolen quad bike while his driving licence was suspended, driving without insurance, damaging a police motorbike, changing the number plates and chassis number of the quad bike, carrying a flick knife, stealing car stereos, handling stolen property, breaching bail conditions and relapsing. Magistrate Francesco Depasquale remanded him in custody.