East Ballina: Man charged with damage service station with fire
Police will allege the man set shelves alight at an East Ballina service station when he was denied cigarettes.
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A man will font court after an alleged arson attack on a Ballina service station.
Police allege a man entered a service station on Links Ave, East Ballina, and approached an attendant before he allegedly demanded cigarettes on Monday just before 7.30am.
When the attendant refused, the man allegedly grabbed a bottle of flammable liquid and poured it onto nearby shelves, before setting them alight and leaving the store.
The 57-year-old attendant was able to extinguish the flames, however, the store sustained damage.
The attendant was uninjured.
Officers from Richmond Police District established a crime scene and commenced an investigation into the incident.
Following extensive inquiries, a 41-year-old man at was arrested at a campsite off Coast Road, East Ballina, about 1.30pm on Wednesday.
He was taken to Ballina Police Station and charged with damage property by fire/explosion.
He was refused bail to appear at Ballina Local Court later on Thursday.