A police car chase to Whian Whian brought concerned Dunoon village locals onto the streets last Friday, concerned about the presence of speeding cars and tactical police in their town.

The car chase, in pursuit of a man wanted on an outstanding arrest warrant, resulted in the police seizing the man’s car, but the man escaped being taken by the police.

“Richmond District Police are seeking public assistance in locating the driver of the car”, a police statement said.

“Matthew Ivan, aged 27, is wanted by virtue of two outstanding arrest warrants.

“Officers attached to Richmond Police District have commenced inquiries into his whereabouts.

“The man is described as being of Caucasian appearance, approximately 175-180cm tall, with a thin build, black hair and brown eyes.

“He is known to frequent the Dunoon, Corndale, Lismore, Ballina and Coffs Harbour areas of Northern NSW.

“If you see this man do not approach him and please call triple-zero.”

A concerned resident of the Dunoon area said “the insane speeds we had police travelling through our village well after the pursuit was engaged was crazy”.

“I want to know what his warrants were for.

“If it wasn’t for a dangerous person or an actual emergency, then that’s ridiculous.

“The fact the pursuit was not actually through Dunoon, but the police used James Street and Dunoon Road to head him off at speeds I’ve never seen driven past mine.”

The resident said there were about 10 paddy wagons and highway patrol cars, as well as police officers in the village.

Police are asking anyone with information about the incident to contact Lismore Police Station on (02) 6626 0599, Crime Stoppers: 1800 333 000 or https://nsw.crimestoppers.com.au.

“Information is treated in strict confidence,” the police statement said.