Man and girl charged over Vic chase

A man and teenage girl have been charged over a high-speed 300km chase through Victoria which allegedly involved a loaded gun being brandished to steal cars and take hostages.

Endeavour Hills man Jaye Richardson, 25, was charged with eight counts of armed robbery on Thursday night and remanded in custody after an out-of-sessions hearing at Morwell police station.

Police say the chase from Dandenong to Swan Reach, which is between Bairnsdale and Lakes Entrance, began when a man allegedly confronted officers with a loaded firearm at a Dandenong address before fleeing in a stolen car with a female teenage passenger.

The chase continued with the man allegedly stealing cars on the way and taking hostages, police said.

The man was arrested with two hostages about four hours later.

One of the cars crashed in Traralgon and the female passenger was arrested by police.

A 17-year-old girl will also appear in a children's court at a later date charged with five counts of armed robbery.

Richardson will appear in Morwell Magistrates Court on Friday morning.

A police spokeswoman said detectives were expected to lay additional charges pending further enquiries.