The 23-year-old man and his girlfriend, 21, approached the roadblock at Jalan Lumatai, Beaufort – Sipitang at 7.50am, on his motorcycle and were told to stop for a check.

Beaufort police chief Azmir Abd Razak said the man suddenly sped into the roadblock instead of stopping, flooring one of the policemen on duty.

The policeman sustained minor injuries to his hand and received outpatient treatment at the district hospital later.

“The rider and his girlfriend were also thrown off the motorcycle. However, the man then quickly got up and ran into a bush area on the roadside before disappearing, leaving the girlfriend,” Azmir told FMT.

He said that the police managed to track down the suspect following a manhunt at Jalan Kompleks Sukan Beaufort at 9pm later the same day.

“It turned out that the man did not have a motorcycle licence and also had criminal records involving drugs and car thefts,” he said.

He added the girlfriend had also been detained to facilitate in investigations.