A Valletta man has been remanded in custody in connection with a hit and run incident yesterday in Marsa, during which the police fired warning shots.

Inspectors Lydon Zammit, Stephen Gulia and Rodrick Spiteri charged Keith Cremona, 34, from Valletta, with 18 offences, which include damaging a police car, slightly injuring two men, dangerous driving, and damaging three motorcycles during the early hours of July 20 in Marsa.

Cremona was also accused of driving his Hyundai Lantra without a licence or insurance cover, failing to stop after being involved in a traffic accident and refusing to give his particulars, failing to stop at a red light, driving on the wrong side of the road.

During the car chase, Cremona hit and injured an off-duty police officer in Marsa. Police were constrained to fire warning shots in the air and at the vehicle, as Cremona kept on driving, even hitting the police car multiple times.

Other charges relating to heroin possession and disobeying legitimate police orders, carrying a sharp and pointed instrument in public without a licence, breaching bail conditions and the conditions of a probation order and recidivism.

The court was also asked to disqualify Cremona from driving and issue a protection order in favour of the people involved.

Cremona, who told the court he worked with a family business, pleaded not guilty.

Bail was not requested at this stage, with his defence counsel requesting the court impose a treatment order for what was described as a “chronic drug problem.”

Lawyers David Gatt and Ishmael Psaila appeared as defence counsel to the accused.