A Gold Coast man has been granted bail after allegedly leading police on a pursuit before crashing into a tree and fleeing into bushland near Broken Head.

James Peterson, 26, appeared before Judge S Wills in the Local Court Bail Division on Wednesday via video link from custody.

Police attempted to stop Peterson’s vehicle on Broken Head Road at Suffolk Park about 8am on Tuesday.

It is alleged he failed to stop, triggering a pursuit that continued along Broken Head Road before the vehicle crashed into a tree.

Police allege Peterson then ran into nearby bushland, sparking a search that lasted several hours.

With dense scrub hampering efforts to locate him, officers deployed a drone to assist in the search.

About 1.40pm, Peterson was arrested on Hinterland Way at Bangalow.

He was taken to Byron Bay Police Station and charged with five offences, including dangerous driving while evading police, exceeding the speed limit by more than 45km/h, failing to stop for police, possessing a prohibited weapon without a permit and failing to disclose the identity of a driver or passenger.

During the bail hearing, Judge Wills described the alleged incident as “an extremely dangerous example of a police pursuit”, noting the vehicle was allegedly driven at excessive speed over a considerable distance and past a school.

“That was a dangerous pursuit. You’re lucky you didn’t hurt yourself or somebody else,” Judge Wills said.

Peterson was granted bail under strict conditions, including that he live at a Coolangatta address, report to Tweed Heads Police Station twice a week, not enter Byron Bay except to attend court, not sit in the driver’s seat of a vehicle and engage with a GP for mental health treatment.

The court was told Peterson is already due to appear in court on an unrelated charge of possessing a prohibited drug.

Both matters are expected to return to Byron Bay Local Court on July 13.

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