Man allegedly found with gun down pants, soliciting urine from teenagers
A man accused of soliciting teenagers for their urine has been detained on firearms charges after police allegedly found a loaded gun underneath his pants.
Police allege 41-year-old Lukas Pilichowski approached teenagers at Highpoint Shopping Center in Maribyrnong on Monday and asked for a urine sample to use to pass a drug test at work.
Officers searched for Pilichowski and claimed to have recovered the firearm. He was arrested after a warrant was issued at his home in Maidstone on Tuesday.
A lawsuit was filed against him for carrying and possessing a loaded firearm in a public place, possession of unlicensed ammunition and possession of a firearm as a “prohibited” person.
In Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday night, Magistrate Michelle Hodgson described the charges as “very serious”. Pilichowski’s defense did not apply for bail.
Pilichowski, wearing a black jumpsuit, sat with his eyes downcast as Hodgson ordered him to appear in court on June 16.
“I can see the worried look on your face sir, but at this stage there is no application for bail tonight,” Hodgson said.
The court was told the defendant had quit heroin and was diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder.
He was arrested by police working as part of Victoria Police’s Operation Pulse, which is deployed in shopping malls to prevent crime. Since the operation began in December, more than 1,500 charges have been filed, more than half of which were shoplifting.
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Angus Delaney is a reporter for The Age. Email him at angus.delaney@theage.com.au or contact him securely on Signal at angusdelaney.31.Connect via email.
