A major manhunt has ended after a wanted fugitive and his female accomplice crossed state borders by swimming the Murray River in their underwear. Police arrested Jayden Day, 28, and a Mildura woman, 23, on Wednesday following a series of alleged incidents across Mildura, about 540km northwest of Melbourne, in the past week.
Police believe the violence started when Mr Day forced his way into a Hawthorne Grove home and shot at a man, 25, grazing the top of his head, then fled in a white dual cab ute just after 1am on Thursday. A major manhunt was launched after a series of violent incidents across Mildura over the past week.
Mr Day and an associate are believed to have assaulted another man with a crowbar to the head at a backpackers on Indi Ave in Red Cliffs about 1.50am on Tuesday. The victim, 61, was hospitalised with injuries but has since been released. It is unknown what motivated the attack.
Police raided a property on Keam St in Mildura on Tuesday night and arrested a man, 28. He was taken to hospital and remains under police guard while investigators searched for Day, who was spotted on Wednesday morning. Police allege the fugitive was driving a stolen dark-coloured Bentley with a female passenger on Biralle Ave in Mildura about 7.20am. Police chased the Bentley and crossed into NSW, where local police also assisted.
The car was dumped around Alfred Elms Rd in Trentham Cliffs and it is believed the pair swam across the Murray River back into Victoria wearing underpants and a G-string. "While they were last seen on foot, police believe they may potentially try to gain access to a vehicle and may also be only partially clothed following the river crossing," a police spokesman said. "Day was last seen wearing shorts or underpants and no top, while the woman was last seen in a dark-coloured G-string underwear and a jacket over no top. Police have been in the local area this morning and spoken directly to a number of campers who are currently stationed there in the event Day tried to approach them."
Armed Crime Squad detectives have been in Mildura since Thursday as they tried to locate Mr Day with local investigators. Detectives spoke to his associates and family members and searched several properties trying to find him. Superintendent Tom Nairn said Thursday's events were particularly concerning and it was possible Mr Day could travel to NSW or South Australia before he was apprehended. He urged the public to lookout for Mr Day and his female associate, not to approach them and to call triple 0 immediately, saying it was likely they would try to source another car.
Anyone with information about the incidents is urged to contact Crime Stoppers. More to come.
