By LACHLAN MOORHEAD
POLICE have charged 24 people over the wild brawl in Melbourne’s CBD last month.
It’s believed members of the ‘Apex’ gang, allegedly named after Apex Street in Dandenong North, were involved in a free-for-all against rival gang Islander 21.
The fight that unfolded on Melbourne’s White Night saw about 150 people converge on Federation Square and wreak havoc throughout the city.
Twenty-four people have been charged with a number of offences including affray and riotous behaviour, while one of them has been charged with two counts of theft.
Those charged range from 14 to 40 years of age, and more arrests are expected in the next few days.
Detectives from Taskforce Ares, set up specifically to investigate the city brawl on Saturday 12 March, have so far identified about 40 people who were involved in unlawful activity on the night.
Police allege an initial fight broke out between a group of adults and a group of youths at Birrarung Marr about 7.50pm.
Then two more fights allegedly took place between two groups of youths at Federation Square about 10.20pm and in the city square about 10.45pm.
Police are also investigating 17 robberies and thefts in the CBD that night.
Members of the Apex gang have also allegedly been involved in a spate of home invasions and car thefts across Casey in the last nine months or so.
On Monday 11 April the State Opposition pledged to crackdown on the stolen car trade when elected.
Opposition Leader Matthew Guy said people caught buying stolen cars for scrap metal would be hit with a fine of more than $15,000.
“This won’t stop all car thefts, but it will put the handbrake on gangs who think stealing and selling cars for cash is easy money,” he said.
Today’s arrests are another chapter in the ongoing investigation into Melbourne’s gangs, with Star News reporting last month that an Apex teen member allegedly threatened to shoot a Greater Dandenong detective and approached her in a cafe while she ate lunch with her partner.
According to a poster at the police station, Dandenong police have warned its officers that the Apex teen in question or his partners could launch an attack on the building.
Anyone with any information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000, or submit a confidential crime report to www.crimestoppersvic.com.au.
