DETECTIVES from the Security Investigation Unit have charged a Mount Eliza man following a fire at a 5G phone tower in Mount Eliza.
Nathan Glover, 44, was arrested at his home in Clendon Close, off Tower Road, Thursday 14 October. He was later charged with causing criminal damage by fire, possessing a prohibited weapon, possessing cannabis, possessing a drug of dependence, and committing an indictable offence while on bail.
Mr Glover appeared via video link from Melbourne West police station at Melbourne Magistrates’ Court last week and, after being refused bail, was remanded in custody to reappear on 13 January.
The charges follow an allegedly deliberately lit fire at a phone tower on Nepean Highway, near Sunnyside Road, Thursday 7 October. Damage to the tower was estimated at $1 million.
A technician called to a fault at the tower reported the fire to police.
Arson chemists attended and the investigation was referred to the security investigation unit due to the damage to critical infrastructure.
The Age newspaper reported on Friday that police had found a six square metre hole dug in Mr Glover’s backyard in which he “intended to imprison Premier Daniel Andrews”.
The paper said police had alleged the anti-lockdown protester gained entry to the tower by cutting wire fencing and climbing inside and pouring a mixture of red paint and petrol onto cabling. He then allegedly discarded a bottle containing the flammable liquid into some bushes, lit the fire and ran.
The newspaper’s report said the court was told Mr Glover was pictured on CCTV arriving at the tower and leaving 10 minutes later on an electric scooter.
Mr Glover was on bail after being charged with using a telecommunication device to harass and menace after allegedly posting on Facebook, under the profile name “nathan.glover.756”, that he intended to capture and arrest Mr Andrews and put him before a “kangaroo court” on October 26 last year.
