Tradies film, follow alleged drink driver as police urge against vigilantism

Police have not ruled out charging two men who pursued an alleged drink driver on the northern Gold Coast who they filmed speeding through suburban roads and into oncoming traffic.Police allege a 49-year-old man was drink driving when he crashed his ute into another ute on the Pacific Motorway at Helensvale yesterday afternoon.It is alleged he fled the scene, before returning and crashing into the same ute a second time and again driving away.Tradies Jack Stanley and Jordan Matterson witnessed parts of the incident and began following the man and filming his alleged escape.Gold Coast Police District Superintendent Craig McGrath said the alleged drink driver was later arrested at his home and investigations were ongoing.The Helensvale man has been charged with one count each of dangerous operation of a vehicle and adversely affected by an intoxicating substance, and failing to provide a specimen breath for analysis.He is scheduled to appear before the Southport Magistrates Court on November 18.Vigilance is not vigilantism, police say While there were no serious injuries reported, Superintendent McGrath said the response of Mr Stanley and Mr Matterson was concerning. Gold Coast Superintendent Craig McGrath says police investigations are continuing. (ABC Gold Coast: Gemma Sapwell)He urged motorists not to engage with erratic drivers and to instead contact police."From what I've seen, the footage of both drivers is quite distressing.This could have had dire consequences," Superintendent McGrath said."Being vigilant is not the same thing as conducting yourself as a vigilante."He said while it could be frustrating for the community, it was important police were able to do their job."It's an important reminder, if someone sees someone commit an offence, not to take the law into their own hands … it can have dire consequences and they are not immune to the law," Superintendent McGrath said.He said investigations would continue, and has not ruled out further charges against both drivers.'He would have got away'Mr Stanley and Mr Matterson, who gave the ABC permission to use their footage provided their business was mentioned, began filming the incident after noticing the driver's "erratic" behaviour."He was swerving at cars, I thought if the police aren't here and no-one else is alerting [motorists] this could end really bad," Mr Matterson said.He had been driving the car following the 49-year-old man, while Mr Stanley was the passenger.The pair said they were compelled to follow the car and that they used their hazard lights to notify other road users of the car."People like that don't need to be on the roads … it was peak-hour traffic, children leaving school," Mr Matterson said.He said the alleged offender's car was significantly damaged, leaving debris on the road and billowing smoke that the pair were able to follow."We tracked him down to Helensvale, got his address and contacted police," Mr Matterson said.Mr Matterson said he did not believe following the man antagonised him or worsened his driving.The video, which was first uploaded to Matto's Mowing and Property Maintenance social media pages, shows the pair also mounted the kerb and drove on a footpath to continue following the driver."He was driving crazy anyway, we kept our distance and were sticking to the road rules," Mr Matterson said."I think what we did was best for the community, considering there was no police at the scene at the time, he would have got away."