Two men have been charged following an investigation into a number of suspicious fires in the Goulburn area.
Police will allege between 19 November 2019 and 8 December 2019, seven fires were deliberately lit in the Ross Street, Tully Park, Brewer Street and Gorman Road areas of Goulburn.
Officers from The Hume Police District established Strike Force Cloete to investigate these fires.
Following extensive inquiries, about 7.45am yesterday (Thursday 27 February 2020), investigators attended two homes in Goulburn.
Two men – aged 20 and 21 – were arrested and taken to Goulburn Police Station.
Police will allege that during a forensic search of the 20-year-old man’s devices, a number of intimate images were found to have been distributed to a minor.
The 20-year-old man was charged with seven counts of intentionally light fire be reckless as to its spread, three counts of enter building with intent, possess prohibited weapon, distribute indecent material to a child under 16 and distribute intimate image without consent.
The 21-year-old man was charged with seven counts of intentionally light fire be reckless as to its spread and three counts of enter building with intent.
The Hume Police District Crime Manager, Detective Chief Inspector Brendan Bernie said police will continue to devote resources to crimes that can have a major impact on the community.
“We have seen devastation in our community as a result of recent bushfires,” Det Ch Insp Bernie said.
“We will continue to investigate and take legal action against those who put our community at risk.”
“The community also played a huge role in these arrests, and we would like to thank everyone who came forward and provided information or reported these fires as they were occurring.”
