Six Charged Over Alleged Newcastle Pub Brawl

BY OLIVIA DILLON

Six people have been charged after a brawl broke-out at a pub in Newcastle last month.

It's alleged, a 36-year-old man threw glass at a wall and grabbed a female staff member after being asked to leave the premises.

A fight broke out, and shortly after, the man and three others left the venue. 

They returned two hours later and allegedly assaulted a number of patrons in the carpark of the premises, including a 33-year-old man who was knocked unconscious and taken to John Hunter Hospital for treatment.

Following inquiries, Raptor North Squad officers executed four search warrants at properties in Cardiff, Edgeworth, Gillieston Heights, and Newcastle West from 5:00am yesterday, where they seized five firearms, cannabis, and MDMA.

Four men and two women were arrested.

It's believed all four men are senior members or associates of the Bandidos Outlaw Motorcycle Gang. 

 

Raptor Squad Set to Tackle Organised Crime in the Hunter

BY BELLA MIDDLETON

 ABOVE: Acting assistant Commissioner Scott Tanner 

The New South Wales Police Force have announced two permanent bases for the organised crime-focused Raptor Squad, including one in the Hunter. 

29 officers will be stationed at the Hunter-based Raptor North, alongside the Illawarra-based Raptor South and the Sydney headquarters. 

The specialist squad will focus on cracking down on organised crime across the region, and will work closely with the National Anti-Gang Squad, the NSW Crime Commission, and the Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission.

"We are putting criminals across regional NSW on notice with the Liberal and Nationals Government boosting the NSW Police Force's Raptor Squad," NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet said.  

"Every resident of our State deserves to feel safe in their communities and their homes."

It's hoped the squad will help dismantle local motorcycle gangs, and deter metropolitan organisations from expanding to the Hunter. 

Northern Region Acting Assistant Commissioner Scott Tanner said the success of the Sydney-based Raptor Squad lead to organised crime groups spreading into regional areas.

"What we're doing is meeting that demand, meeting that risk, by basing a squad in the northern region, and they'll be targeting those people who do us harm," said Mr Tanner. 

"Having our own squad now allows us better capability in the region. They are extra positions which have been created, so we're not taking positions away from the existing Raptor. They will still continue to be supported by the metropolitan-based Raptor squads."  

"They'll be living in our communities, so they'll have better input and better buy-in, which is really one of the advantages." 

"The message is clear today, if you're going to involve yourself in any criminal activity or organised crime, the Raptor North will be there, they will looking for you, they will track you down." 

State Crime Commander Michael Fitzgerald said the Raptor Squad has a proven high-impact on the determent of organised crime, and regional bases will build on that. 

"Since Strike Force Raptor's inception in 2009 and its establishment as a standalone squad in 2021, officers have made more than 7,500 arrests across the state and laid almost 20,000 charges for a variety of offences," said Assistant Commissioner Fitzgerald. 

"The Hunter and Illawarra communities can be confident, a permanent presence of the Raptor Squad in the regions will ensure a rapid response to any organised criminal activity impacting on their safety."  

Bikie Arrested in Muswellbrook After Extortion Investigation

BY LAUREN FREEMANTLE

An Upper Hunter member of the Comanchero outlaw motorcycle gang has been arrested among four others over an alleged extortion attempt against a fellow bikie. 

Strike Force Raptor officers launched investigations in August after a 51-year-old man was seriously assaulted and had his house set on fire as part of the alleged extortion.

Yesterday, police executed search warrants at 10 properties across the state, at Mudgee, Dubbo, Gulgong, Yarrawonga, and Muswellbrook seizing 14 firearms and prohibited drugs.

A 47-year-old bikie was arrested in Muswellbrook and charged with gun offences - He'll face court in January.

Criminal Groups Squad Commander, Detective Superintendent Deborah Wallace, praised the work of officers.

“Strike Force Raptor is relentless in its pursuit to disrupt the activities of OMCG members that pose a risk to the community at large,” Det Supt Wallace said.

“We will not tolerate any form of thuggery and will continue to knock on their doors and put them in the back of police cars until these criminal groups are dismantled.

“Anyone in the community who has information on organised criminal activity across the state, we want to hear from you.”

Image: Herald Sun. 

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. 

Finks Bikie Arrested in Maitland

BY LAUREN FREEMANTLE

A high-ranking member of the Finks Outlaw Motorcycle Gang will face court today after being arrested following a vehicle stop in Maitland on Monday.

Around 7:40 Monday morning, police from Strike Force Raptor stopped a vehicle in Chisholm when a 32-year-old male passenger became aggressive and made threats.

He then resisted arrest and fled the scene, before being apprehended at Maitland Police Station yesterday.

He was charged with a number of offences, including resist arrest, assault police, intimidate police and offensive language before being refused bail to face Maitland Local Court today.