Strike Force Raptor North have charged three Rebels outlaw motorcycle gang (OMCG) members and an associate over their alleged roles in a home invasion, where a man was seriously assaulted, and a kidnapping in the Hunter region.
As part of ongoing targeting of the illicit activities of OMCGs, the Criminal Groups Squad’s Strike Force Raptor North investigators established Strike Force Koorool in December 2018 to investigate the activities of the Newcastle Rebels OMCG chapter.
Police will allege in court that a group of men, three who are Rebels OMCG members and an associate, broke into a home in Cessnock and seriously assaulted one of the occupants, a 24-year-old man, on Wednesday 30 May 2018.
The man was treated at John Hunter Hospital for serious head and ear injuries and was later released.
On Sunday 10 March 2019, police stopped a Ford Falcon sedan on Mount View Road, Cessnock, and spoke with the five male occupants, including an injured 22-year-old.
It will be alleged in court that the 22-year-old man had been assaulted by the other men in the vehicle.
Following extensive inquiries, strike force investigators, with the assistance of specialist tactical officers, arrested four men – aged 24, 25, 27, and 37 – at homes in Cessnock, Edgeworth and Swansea, and at Cessnock Police Station yesterday (Tuesday 7 May 2019).
Shortly after, strike force investigators executed search warrants at the properties where they located several items, including Rebels OMCG colours, mobile phones, two Harley Davidson motorcycles, a car and a firearm.
These items were seized to undergo forensic examination.
The 25-year-old Cessnock man was charged with aggravated break and enter and commit serious indictable offence – inflict actual bodily harm, take/detain person in company with intent to obtain advantage, knowingly direct activities of criminal group, and two counts of dishonestly obtain financial advantage by deception.
He was refused bail and appeared at Cessnock Local Court yesterday, where he was formally refused bail to appear before the same court on Wednesday 10 July 2019.
The 27-year-old Swansea man was charged with aggravated break and enter and commit serious indictable offence – inflict actual bodily harm, knowingly participate in criminal group assist crime, and dishonestly obtain financial advantage by deception.
The 37-year-old Edgeworth man was charged with aggravated break and enter and commit serious indictable offence – inflict actual bodily harm, take/detain person in company with intent to obtain advantage, dishonestly obtain financial advantage by deception, and knowingly participate in criminal group assist crime.
They were both refused bail to appear before Belmont Local Court today (Wednesday 8 May 2019).
The 24-year-old Cessnock man was charged with take/detain person in company with intent to obtain advantage and knowingly participate in criminal group assist crime.
He was refused bail to appear at Cessnock Local Court today.
Investigations are continuing.
Strike Force Raptor was established in 2009 and conducts proactive investigations and intelligence-based, high-impact policing operations to prevent and disrupt conflicts, and dismantle any network engaged in serious organised criminal activity.
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