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Doreen, Mickleham men charged by Taskforce Lunar

A Doreen man and Mickleham man have charged following an alleged extortion and a subsequent arson at a tobacco store in Wangaratta in July 2023.

Two search warrants were executed on January 23 at residential addresses in Doreen and Mickleham.

A 23-year-old Doreen man, who police will allege was the man captured in the vision of the incident, was arrested at his home address.

He has been charged with extortion with threat to destroy property, possess cannabis and fail to comply with direction to provide assistance.

The man was due to face court Tuesday afternoon.

A 31-year-old Mickleham man, who police will allege was filming the video, was also arrested at his home address.

He has been charged will 11 counts of possess drug of dependence (prescription drugs) and has been bailed to appear on May 27.

The activity follows a public appeal for information earlier this week regarding two incidents which occurred in July 2023.

In the first incident, two men entered the Murphy Street store about 4pm on July 4 allegedly demanding the member of staff close down the store immediately or it would be burnt down.

The second incident occurred at 12.45am on July 27 when two men exit a white BMW, forcing entry into the same tobacco store.

An accelerant is poured, before the store is set alight and both men flee the scene.

Nobody was physically injured, but the store sustained significant damage during the incident.

Investigations into that incident remain ongoing.

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