A former Richmond footballer is behind bars amid allegations he was involved in a violent car chase in Melbourne on Christmas Eve.

Daniel Connors appeared in court on Friday on a string of offences, including drugs and firearms charges, and the alleged theft of a motor vehicle police say was used in a violent crime where shots were fired.

Connors, who played for the Tigers between 2007 and 2012 before being sacked for a well-documented sleeping pill blunder after repeat behavioural warnings, did not apply for bail in court on Friday.

He will likely now remain behind bars until his next court appearance in March.

“The former footy star was arrested in Geelong yesterday (Thursday) by members of the SOG (Special Operations Group),” 7NEWS reporter Cassie Zervos revealed.

“Daniel Connors was one of three men wanted over a violent car chase on Christmas Eve where shots were fired from one car to another.

“Police from the Echo taskforce and the VIPER taskforce swooped on other men, arresting a 24-year-old man from Deer Park.”

Connors’ arrest was part of a gang crime squad probe where raids were conducted on addresses across the Melbourne metro area.

Police are alleging a stolen Toyota Rav4 was used to pursue a Volkswagen through a number of Melbourne’s northern suburbs where dashcam vision shows the vehicle run a red light and cross onto the wrong side of the road as part of evasive measures.

“It appears an occupant of the Toyota fires several shots in the direction of the Volkswagen, which is later located on 31 December with a shattered rear windscreen which police believe is gunshot damage,” Victoria Police said in a statement.

“These are rare incidents but any indiscriminate use of a firearm and dangerous driving in the presence of innocent civilians going about their morning is concerning,” Detective Acting Inspector Ash Ryan, from the Echo Taskforce, added.

“We believe this was a targeted attack, but the danger it poses to the community is immense and we are lucky that other people were not seriously injured.”

Police are still appealing for any potential witnesses to the car chase to come forward.

Connors managed 29 games for the Tigers in his six years at the club.

His court appearance on Friday is not his first brush with the law, after being convicted of a violent pub attack that left a man with a severed tendon in his hand in 2016.