Barry Rogers was refused bail when he appeared in Bendigo Magistrates Court on Friday 2 October.
The 52-year-old Echuca man was charged with armed robbery and assault with a weapon. He was remanded to appear at the same court for a committal mention on 20 January 2027.
EARLIER (8.30am October 2):
A man is facing court today after allegedly robbing a group of teenage girls armed with a large tree branch at Echuca before swimming across the Murray River in an attempt to flee police.
Echuca police Detective Adrian Straudt said the 52-year-old man, who was not wearing a shirt, allegedly approached the group of 14- and 15-year-old girls as they were enjoying a picnic lunch on the grassed area between Echuca Library and the Murray River about 3pm on Thursday, October 1.
“He armed himself with a large branch and, demanding a handbag, became aggressive towards the group of girls,” he said.
The terrified teenagers fled, leaving the bag behind.
Police allege the man took cash from the handbag and put it in his pocket before fleeing as officers arrived.
In a dramatic bid to escape, he allegedly entered the Murray River and swam across to NSW.
NSW Police located the man on the other side of the river, where he was stopped by Deniliquin police.
He was taken to Echuca hospital but, according to police, refused medical treatment shortly after arriving.
Echuca police then arrested the man.
He was charged over the alleged armed robbery and remanded in custody to face a filing hearing at Bendigo Magistrates’ Court today, Friday, October 2.
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