By Alesha Capone
THE VICTORIA Police Santiago taskforce arrested a St Albans man after a handgun was produced during an argument at a petrol station in the area last week.
The taskforce, which was set up in 2007 to investigate a series of non-fatal shootings in the North and West, caught the man after the incident, which occurred at a service station near the intersection of Kings Rd and Gillespie Rd on 4 July.
Police said at around 6.30pm, a man was filling his car with petrol when another two males in a parked car became involved in a conversation with him.
Police were called after an argument broke out and one of the men in the parked vehicle allegedly pulled out a handgun, causing their victim to run away.
Santiago officers, joined by the Special Operations Group and Dog Squad for the raids, also executed two search warrants at St Albans and Coolaroo houses last week making three arrests.
The arrests were in relation to a spree of shootings in Jacana, Glenroy and Coolaroo which occurred across the past few weeks.
Two St Albans men, aged 18 and 31, were arrested and charged with offences including three counts of armed robbery, the theft of a motor car, possessing a firearm, two counts of false imprisonment, two counts of assault with a weapon, conduct endangering life, impersonating police and two counts of failing to stop after an accident.
A 19-year-old from Coolaroo was also charged with armed robbery, two counts of false imprisonment and the theft of a motor car, as a result of the raids.
The offences allegedly happened in St Albans, Cranbourne, Thomastown and Coburg across three days.
The men are expected to appear for committal hearing in Melbourne Magistrates’ Court in October.
Police have called on any residents who have information on the shootings or any other incident to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
