MELTON: Threat to journalist


Detectives from Taskforce Hawk have charged a man as part of an investigation into threatening communications.
A search warrant was executed at a Fraser Rise residential address. A 31-year-old man was arrested and subsequently interviewed by police.
He has been charged with two counts of use carriage service to menace/cause offence and was bailed to appear at Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on July 26.
Investigators will allege he made a threating phone call to a journalist on the morning of December 24.
Operation Hawk was established in July 2024 to specifically target criminal behaviour linked to the construction industry and transitioned to Taskforce Hawk in June 2025.
This was in response to a number of fresh allegations of serious and violent criminal behaviour.
Taskforce Hawk is focused on assessing new intelligence and evidence relating to allegations of criminal behaviour linked to the construction industry.
It also continues to proactively target organised crime associated with the sector, including a focus on any individuals employed within the construction industry who have known links to outlaw motorcycle gangs.
Police are also instigating approaches with relevant industry stakeholders to gather intelligence, as well as working closely with a range of law enforcement partners, regulators and government authorities.