A member of one of Melbourne's most notorious crime families is in hospital under guard after a police car was rammed in Melbourne's inner-east overnight. Lex Peirce Jr, the nephew of two men charged over the 1988 Walsh Street murders, was one of two people arrested at a 7-Eleven in Hawthorn East just after midnight. Police spotted a white BMW allegedly bearing false plates parked at the 7-Eleven store on Toorak Road in Hawthorn East about 12.30am.
The police members involved were not injured. (Nine)When officers arrived at the scene, Peirce Jr allegedly jumped into the car and attempted to flee, but the car became wedged between a bollard and the front of the store. Police parked behind the car in an attempt to stop it leaving when Peirce Jr allegedly reversed, ramming the police vehicle several times. Officers pushed the BMW forward to stop any further incidents.
The BMW became wedged between a bollard and the front of the store. (Nine) Peirce Jr, from Langwarrin, and a 31-year-old Doveton woman were arrested at the scene and taken to hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. The pair are expected to be interviewed once released from hospital. The police members involved were not injured. Peirce Jr is the grandson of notorious crime family matriarch Kath Pettingill and the nephew of Victor Peirce and Trevor Pettingill, who were both charged over the 1988 Walsh Street police shootings. Peirce and Pettingill were both acquitted of the shooting death of two police officers on Walsh Street, South Yarra in the 1980s. Peirce's wife later admitted to lying to police to cover up for her husband.