A man accused of terrorising a city by taking a man hostage and holding off police during a three-hour siege is the son of pro-gun politician Kim Vuga.
At about 7.45pm on Friday, 29-year-old Jaimie Ronald Madden allegedly threatened a taxi driver with a firearm and forced him to drive to a Southport service station on the Gold Coast.
Madden then allegedly carjacked three vehicles and threatened multiple people with a ‘huge hand pistol’.
He was charged with 15 offences on Saturday morning, including armed robbery, unlawful possession of a weapon and carjacking.
A man accused of terrorising a city by holding off police for three hours during a siege is the son of pro-gun politician Kim Vuga (pictured)
It has since been revealed Madden is the son of pro-gun politician and controversial anti-Islam campaigner Kim Vuga, the Gold Coast Bulletin reported.
Ms Vuga is the founder of the Love Australia or Leave Party, and has been vocal about her pro-gun stance since registering for federal elections in October 2016.
She took to the party’s Facebook page on Saturday to publicly address the incident and posted a message directed to the alleged victims, expressing her sympathy.
‘Our family’s deepest wish at this time is for the many victims to be able to resource the necessary help required so that they may be able to rebuild their lives,’ she said.
‘Our heart felt thanks go to QLD Police, who selflessly go to work every day, putting their lives on the line to protect others.’
Ms Vuga resides in Townsville and became known after she appeared on the 2015 SBS television program Go Back To Where You Came From.
Police alleged that Madden forced a taxi driver into a service station and while there, he allegedly shattered the glass door of the business with the firearm.
He then allegedly threatened an employee and left with cash from the till before allegedly carjacking a sedan.
Ms Vuga is the founder of the Love Australia or Leave Party, and has been vocal about her pro-gun stance since registering for federal elections in October 2016
The vehicle was spotted by PolAir a short time later. The man allegedly stole a third car at the intersection of Wardoo and Johnston Streets by threatening the four occupants with his firearm.
Police successfully stopped the car with spikes on Nerang Street.
The man fled the car and ran to another service station nearby where he allegedly threatened the employee, who escaped, and police officers who arrived soon after.
Police locked down the area and declared an emergency as a siege began.
CCTV obtained by Nine News shows Madden walking into the Shell Service Station armed with the gun and asking the worker if he could ‘have a smoke’.
The worker, named Rob, complies with Madden’s demands, even when he gets told he’s going to be a hostage.
‘You’re going to be my hostage for a little bit, I’m really sorry mate. Isn’t it your lucky day?’ Madden can be heard saying
After police deployed spike stripes and brought Kia Sportage to a stop before he allegedly threatened another driver at gun point
‘You’re going to be my hostage for a little bit, I’m really sorry mate. Isn’t it your lucky day?’ Madden can be heard saying.
Rob escaped out the back of the store as Madden helped himself to products behind the counter and taunted police for three-and-a-half hours.
He then demanded a phone so that he could call his two daughters, his ex-partner and his mother ‘before he goes to jail’.
When he finally got what he wanted, he gave himself up to police and he was arrested without further incident at midnight.
Madden was charged with 15 offences including five counts of armed robbery, three counts each of wilful damage and unlawful use of a motor vehicle, two counts of serious assault on police while armed, and one count of dangerous operation of a vehicle with prior conviction and unlawful possession of a weapon.
He was due to face court on Saturday morning but was excused as he was recovering from ‘health issues’ and he is due to appear on Monday.
The stolen car and it was forced off the road into a service station where police cornered the man into a three-hour stand of