An investigation will be launched into whether two men who tried to ram a junior officer with a car have links to organized crime gangs.
The officer fired a shot at the car as it sped away after a confrontation in an underground car park on a block of St Peters, in Sydney’s west.
Police were called to the Princes Highway unit block after reports of a burglary and responded about 1.15am on Sunday.
When police approached the two men, they got into a white Volkswagen Golf and tried to drive away.
When police tried to stop the car, the vehicle drove directly toward an officer and came into “close proximity” before the officer fired a single shot at the car.
After driving away at high speed, the car was found on fire in an underground car park in Harris St Pyrmont
It then sped away from the scene.
Police do not know whether one of the men in the Volkswagen Golf was hit when the officer fired his firearm.
“It is very confrontational to be attacked and it is not a pleasant moment for any officer to fire a firearm,” Chief Inspector Ben Kennis, commander of the Binnen West police area, told reporters.
Following the confrontation, the vehicle, which was carrying number plates reported stolen, was involved in a brief pursuit in Rozelle before being found on fire in an underground car park in Harris St Pyrmont, about 1.7 miles from Rozelle.
More than a hundred residents had to evacuate the complex.
The fire brigade extinguished the fire within an hour.
Two crime scenes have been established at the St Peters and Pyrmont locations as forensic experts search the Volkswagen Golf.
No injuries have been reported.
Detective Acting Chief Inspector Kennis could not confirm whether the two men were known to police at the time, but said investigations would be carried out into possible links to organized crime.
“That will certainly be a line of inquiry that we will continue.”
“It is very confrontational to be hit by a car and it is not a pleasant moment for any officer to fire a firearm,” said Chief Inspector Ben Kennis, commander of the Binnen West police area.
“At this stage the identity of the perpetrators is unknown so there is no information on any links to organized crime, but that will certainly form part of the investigation,” he said.
He said officers at the scene “acted on their suspicion” when they confronted them.
“They called for them to stop, and when they ran, the police chased them,” he said.
Detective Acting Chief Inspector Kennis said police may discharge their firearms in circumstances where they believe there is a threat to their lives.
He said the officer who fired his weapon will be spoken to and details will emerge in the investigation.
He also said he spoke to the officer.
“I spoke to that police officer this morning and they’re doing quite well.
“(They) haven’t gotten much sleep, but hopefully with some sleep and some exercise they will feel much better.
“But we will support that officer and wrap a lot of support around him.”
He said the alarm was raised by a resident of the St Peters unit block after two men were behaving suspiciously.
“The window in the foyer at the front of the unit block was smashed upon arrival,” he said.
“We’re not sure if they gained access to that unit block, but nothing has been stolen at this stage.”
Police have urged anyone with information, CCTV or dashcam footage to contact police or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.