A man has been charged following an alleged assault on a cameraman in Melbourne’s far west.
The camera operator was covering an alleged attack at an address on Fraser Street in Melton South when he was allegedly assaulted on May 15.
Police arrested a 26-year-old Melton man on Wednesday afternoon following a crash in an allegedly stolen vehicle in Bentleigh East, more than 60 kilometres away by car in Melbourne’s south-east.
The man, who police said fled the scene of the May 15 incident, faces a raft of charges and was remanded in custody to appear at Moorabbin Magistrates’ Court on Thursday.
On Tuesday, another man was charged over the original alleged burglary, said to have taken place in Melton South more than two weeks before the cameraman was left with non-life-threatening injuries.
A group allegedly smashed their way into the property armed with a rifle, a machete and a baton and assaulted the three people inside.
Police are still searching for several others suspected of being behind the attack at the home on Fraser Street about 4am on April 2.
A 21-year-old Newcomb man was on Tuesday arrested over the incident and charged with aggravated home invasion, aggravated burglary, conduct endangering life, prohibited person possess firearm, theft of motor vehicle, use firearm in contravention of Firearm Prohibition Order and breach conditions of bail.
A 22-year-old Geelong West man was also arrested and charged with possessing cannabis and a 21-year-old Newcomb woman was interviewed and released pending further enquiries after police carried out five search warrants yesterday over the incident.
The searches occurred after police called for the public’s help to track down the group behind the alleged “targeted attack” earlier this month, releasing CCTV footage of it.
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Police alleged four men wearing balaclavas stormed into the house, firing shots and demanding cash and assaulted those inside the house — two women aged 44 and 67, and a 31-year-old man.
The man sustained “a significant knife wound” to his face and was later transported to hospital for treatment.
The women suffered minor injuries.
After searching the property, the men found a safe and allegedly stole a significant quantity of jewellery.
They allegedly fled on foot before stealing a white Volkswagen Polo from the address, which was later found burnt out on the North Shore.
Police alleged another vehicle, a White Mazda CX-5 with a sticker on the back windscreen, was also later used by the group.
Officers seized a white Mazda CX-5, a number of knives, what appears to be cannabis and a quantity of white powder during the raids on Tuesday.
The investigation remains ongoing.
Anyone with information or who witnessed the incident is urged to contact police.
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