DELACOMBE, VIC. — A 32-year-old man has been charged following his arrest in the Ballarat area yesterday as part of the Arson and Explosives Squad investigation into several fires, including one at a Melton store earlier this month that left a man with life-threatening injuries.
Warrants were executed yesterday morning with assistance from Taskforce Echo and Ballarat local units at the Bandidos Outlaw Motorcycle Gang (OMCG) clubhouse in Delacombe, as well as three residential properties in Delacombe, Guildford and Fraser Rise.
A 32-year-old Delacombe man, who is also a patched member of the Bandidos OMCG, was arrested along with a 42-year-old Melton man.
The arrests followed an alleged suspicious fire at a shop in Taylors Lakes on Friday morning.
Emergency services were called after reports that the business on Melton Highway had been set alight around 4.25am on September 11.
No one was inside the premises at the time of the incident.
Police arrested the two men following a pursuit through multiple suburbs in Melbourne’s west, eventually dumping their vehicle in Brookfield.
They fled on foot and were arrested nearby a short time later.
Police interviewed the 42-year-old Melton man and released him pending summons.
Police allege the 32-year-old man was also involved in a deliberately lit fire at a Melton store on 3 September.
Emergency services were initially called shortly after 2.50am to reports that a store near the corner of High and Alexandra streets in Melton was on fire.
A man with significant burns was located nearby and was subsequently airlifted to hospital, where he remains in a critical condition with significant injuries.
Luckily, no one was in the store at the time.
The 32-year-old Delacombe man has been charged with the following offences related to the Melton fire on September 3, including recklessly causing serious injury, aggravated burglary, criminal damage by fire, reckless conduct endangering life and destruction of evidence
He was remanded to appear in court at a later date.
Detectives will also look at whether both the Melton and Taylors Lakes fires are connected.
Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or www.crimestoppersvic.com.au.
