WANGARATTA: Arrests at Doreen, Mickelham, after alleged extortion
Detectives from Taskforce Lunar have charged two men following an alleged extortion and a subsequent arson at a tobacco store in Wangaratta in July 2023.
Two search warrants were executed early onb Thursday morning (Jan. 23) at residential addresses in Doreen and Mickleham.
A 23-year-old Doreen man, who police will allege was the man captured in the vision of the incident, was arrested at his home address.
He has been charged with extortion with threat to destroy property, possess cannabis and fail to comply with direction to provide assistance.
The man was to face Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on Thursday afternoon.
A 31-year-old Mickleham man, who police will allege was filming the video, was also arrested at his home address.
He has been charged will 11 counts of possess drug of dependence (prescription drugs) and has been bailed to appear at Broadmeadows Magistrates’ Court on May 27.
The activity follows a public appeal for information earlier this week regarding two incidents which occurred in July 2023.
In the first incident, two men entered the Murphy St store around 4pm on Tuesday, July 4, allegedly demanding the member of staff close down the store immediately or it would be burnt down.
The second incident occurred at 12.45am on Thursday, July 27, when two men exited a white BMW, forcing entry into the same tobacco store.
An accelerant was poured, before the store was set alight and both men fled the scene.
Nobody was physically injured, but the store sustained significant damage during the incident.
Investigations into that incident remain ongoing.