Officers from Transit Safety Division have arrested a man following a series of 12 fires across Frankston’s CBD over the weekend.
The 31-year-old man was arrested in Park Lane on Sunday 20 August about 9pm following an extensive search by local police, detectives and officers from transit.
The man of no fixed address has been charged, at this stage, with:
• reckless conduct endangering serious injury
• light fire in the open air (x4)
• possess anything with intent to destroy or damage property
• negligently deal with proceeds of crime
• possess controlled weapon with excuse
• conveys, carries or packs an animal in a manner or position or in circumstances which subjects, or is likely to subject, it to unnecessary pain or suffering; (Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act).
The investigation remains ongoing and further charges are expected following the series of small bin, grass and rubbish fires which include but are not limited to:
• a loading dock in Keys Street,
• Olsen Street behind a school
• a shop carpark in Young Street
• a real estate agent carpark
• outside a business along Nepean Highway, and
• bin fires in Ross Smith Avenue and Kananook Creek Boulevard.
The man was also charged with the prevention of cruelty to animals’ act offence after two live ducklings were located in his underwear following a search.
The man has been remanded in custody to appear before Frankston Magistrates’ Court today.
