Police probe bikie links after Rutherford car bombing

BY DAKOTA TAIT

Police are appealing to the public for information, after a car bombing in Rutherford in October.

About 8.30pm on Thursday 27 October, emergency services were called to a home on Avery Street after reports of a loud explosion on the street. 

The occupants of the home attempted to put out a small fire at the rear of a Chrysler sedan parked outside. 

Fire crews attended a short time later and extinguished the blaze. 

The car was seized for forensic examination and officers established a crime scene, before detectives attached to the State Crime Command’s Criminal Groups Squad commenced an investigation under Strike Force Ucles. 

It’s believed a number of people involved have links to outlaw motorcycle groups. 

Two charged in Edgeworth shooting investigation, more arrests expected

BY DAKOTA TAIT

Two people have been charged following a joint investigation by detectives from the Robbery and Serious Crime Squad and Lake Macquarie Police District into an alleged home invasion and another shooting in Lake Macquarie earlier this year. 

Police were told a 24-year-old woman attended John Hunter Hospital about 11pm on Tuesday 8 March 2022 suffering a laceration to her leg and head, after two men allegedly forced entry to her Laurel Avenue home in Edgeworth and slashed her with a machete. 

A month later, about 9.10pm on Friday 8 April 2022, emergency services responded to reports of a public place shooting at a carpark on Arnott Street in Edgeworth. 

A 27-year-old man was found suffering gunshot wounds to the right leg and was taken to John Hunter Hospital for treatment. 

Detectives commenced investigations into the shooting under Strike Force Undola. 

Initial investigations led detectives to believe the incidents were linked and allegedly involved members of the Nomads Outlaw Motorcycle Gang. 

Detectives executed a search warrant at a Cardiff storage facility earlier this month, where a number of weapons, ammunition and a machete were located and seized. 

Police also seized a number of items consistent with the Nomads Outlaw Motorcycle Gang during a subsequent vehicle stop conducted at Blackalls Park that same day.

Following further inquiries, strike force detectives executed a search warrant at a home at Blackalls Park about 10.10am on Monday morning, where a number of items relevant to the investigation were seized, including mobile phones and documents. 

A 42-year-old woman was arrested and taken to Toronto Police Station, where she was charged with 12 offences, relating to break and enter, firearm possession, the use of a firearm to cause grievous bodily harm, and other involvement in criminal activity.

She was refused bail to appear at Newcastle Local Court on Tuesday, where she was formally bail refused to appear at Toronto Local Court in October.

A further two search warrants were executed at a home on Crestview Street in Gillieston Heights, about 7am on Tuesday, where a 27-year-old man was arrested at one of the homes and taken to Raymond Terrace Police Station. 

He faces a number of charges in relation to involvement in the activities of a criminal group, the use of a firearm to cause grievous bodily harm, and stealing. 

He was refused bail to appear at Newcastle Local Court yesterday, and formally bail refused to reappear at Maitland Local Court on Wednesday. 

Investigations under both strike forces are ongoing, with further arrests expected.

New Bikie Laws Give Hunter Police Greater Power

BY LAUREN FREEMANTLE

Strike Force Raptor officers investigating the actions of Hunter bikie gang members are being given extra powers to tackle criminal behaviour.

Under the new laws, police executing a search warrant on bikie clubhouses will have clear powers to search anyone on site; compel anyone there to reveal their name and address; and compel anyone present to move on.

Police Minister Troy Grant announced the reforms today, saying they'll help police identify suspects and gather evidence on gang members.

NSW already has the toughest organised crime laws in Australia, with measures like Public Safety Orders, Unexplained Wealth Laws and Consorting Laws among those available to police to target outlaw bikie offences.

In April 2018, NSW Police successfully applied to the Supreme Court for Serious Crime Prevention Orders against 10 high-ranking members of the Finks and Nomads who were linked to gang-related public place shootings and violence across the Lower Hunter.

"This is beefing up the Restricted Premises Act," Parliamentary Secretary for the Hunter Scot MacDonald explained, "it follows on from a review in 2016 and we've adopted all the measures from that...it's just giving the police more tools to disrupt and interfere in the business of criminal gangs."

"The police, particularly Strike Force Raptor North have been doing a brilliant job in the Hunter," Mr MacDonald said.

NSW Police Commissioner Mick Fuller affirmed officers will continue their "unrelenting crackdown" on organised crime in months to come.

Police Scour Hunter River to Investigate Bikie Shooting

BY LAUREN FREEMANTLE

Police investigating a 2016 Nomads outlaw motorcycle gang shooting are diving the Hunter River near the Hexham Bridge today, searching for the gun involved.

Investigations into the incident are ongoing after officers were called out to a home on Guyang Street, Corlette on the evening of April 2nd, 2016.

A 31-year-old man - a member of the Nomads gang - was rushed to the John Hunter Hospital after being shot in the thighs.

Inquiries suggest the shooting may have actually taken place near Nelson Bay on the Big Rocky Track off Gan Gan Road as a result of tensions within the Nomads club.

“Our inquiries have revealed there were significant tensions between local members of the group at the time and we believe the shooting was a result of that conflict,” Strike Force Raptor’s Detective Inspector George Radmore said.

“We know there were a number of people present at the scene, he continued, "and likely more that have direct knowledge of the incident, none of whom have assisted with our inquiries." 

Officers believe the firearm used may have been dumped in the Hunter River shortly after the shooting.

As a result, police are still appealing for anyone with information about the incident to report it confidentially to Strike Force Raptor detectives online or by calling Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

Police search for clues at One Mile Beach today. Image: The Herald.

280 officers raid 31 properties in "relentless" bikie crackdown

BY LAUREN FREEMANTLE

Properties connected to outlaw motorcycle gangs in the Hunter have been raided today as part of a major police operation.

31 search warrants were executed across 10 different suburbs from Muswellbrook to Newcastle, with 280 officers seizing various illicit items such as firearm parts, unlawful weapons and even snakes.

Police said 10 persons are currently in custody and are assisting with enquiries.

The raids come as Strike Force Raptor and Darnay officers zero-in on the Finks and Nomads rival bikie gangs, whose contention has resulted in numerous drive-by shootings and public acts of violence in weeks gone by, at Gillieston Heights, Tenambit and Thornton among other suburbs.

During the Thornton drive-by shooting on March 4th, a 44-year-old man was shot in the leg at his home on Deschamps Close while his child was inside at the time.

Just days earlier, the home of Finks Hunter Chapter President, Andrew Manners was sprayed with bullets.

Detective Superintendent Wayne Humphrey said the conduct cannot be allowed to continue.

"NSW Police will continue to interrupt and intercept the activities of these two outlaw motorcycle gangs," he affirmed, "We will not tolerate public acts of violence [such as] these drive-by shootings.

"We have been deploying tactical police into the field with Operation Raptor staff to interrupt the activities of these gangs and that will continue."

The Superintendent issued a plea for anyone connected to the crimes to come forward with information, despite the code of silence operating within the gangs.

"If anyone has information from within these gangs," he said,"I know it's going to be a hard road to come to the police...but eventually, either you or someone in your family could be hurt by these activities or even someone who's totally unrelated to the gang, and that will be on your conscience," he asserted.

Criminal Groups Squad Commander, Detective Superintendent Deb Wallace, echoed her colleague in declaring police will not give up.

"This dispute has been going on for 16 months...one would say 'are they getting tired of doing it?' it doesn't appear so, but neither are we," Superintendent Wallace said.

"We'll be relentless in stopping and suppressing this activity."

Police launch new strike-force following bikie shooting in Maitland

BY LAUREN FREEMANTLE

Police have confirmed this morning's shooting incident at a home in Chisholm was bikie-gang related.

In response to escalating tensions between the Nomads and Finks Outlaw Motorcycle Gangs, Hunter police have announced the initiation of Strike Force Darnay to better monitor local bikie behaviour.

Around 1am this morning, police received reports of gunfire from neighbours and attended a home on Duskdarter Street, Chisholm.

They found the house's facade and a car parked out the front peppered with bullet holes.

It's understood the incident was a drive-by shooting, adding to a spate of crimes committed in the Maitland area over the past month.

Indeed, Detective Superintendent Wayne Humphrey says within the Hunter region, there have been six bikie-related public place shootings and two attacks involving Molotov Cocktails since January alone.

However, the Superintendent says the community needn't become frightened, due to the targeted nature of the attacks.

"We are very satisfied that this is a targeted attack.

"We believe there is no danger to the community, in terms of 'randomness' of attacks- this is a targeted attack between two groups undertaking this criminality."

Superintendent Humphrey says the crimes are difficult to investigate due to pacts made between gang members.

"They have a misguided code of silence and we've got to try to break that down...these people are victims of crime, despite the fact they may be members of the gang," he said.

Strike Force Raptor Officers from Sydney are still present in the Hunter to aid investigations, and Wayne Humphrey hopes now, with a specific Hunter taskforce, some real progress will be made.

The Nomads' Clubhouse at Islington and the Finks' base at Muswellbrook both remain declared as restricted premises, allowing police to enforce consorting laws.

Cracking down: Detective Inspector Wayne Humphrey announces Strike Force Darnay.