Latest news with #OMCG
The Advertiser
7 days ago
- The Advertiser
Kidnapping charge: anti-bikie police squad swoops on man at airport
ANTI-BIKIE police have swooped on a man at Newcastle Airport as part of an eight-month investigation into an alleged kidnapping in the Hunter. Officers from the specialist Raptor North squad arrested Troy Vanderlight, 34, at the Williamtown airport at 8.15am on Monday, August 12. It's alleged that Vanderlight has associations with the Hells Angels. The Tenambit man spent the night in custody before fronting court via video link yesterday, where magistrate Elizabeth Bushby released him on bail, on a string of strict conditions. Police prosecutor Sergeant Daniel Grace opposed Vanderlight's release. He said Vanderlight had previously been sentenced for offences related to outlaw motorcycle gang (OMCG) activity during an earlier "tit for tat". Sergeant Grace said the fresh kidnapping charge was also an alleged OMCG matter. Sergeant Grace told the court the prosecution case was strong, Vanderlight was a fail-to-appear risk, and he or his associates could interfere with witnesses in the case. Vanderlight's record showed he had a "reluctance" to comply with court orders, Sergeant Grace said. The court heard Vanderlight had twice breached serious crime prevention orders imposed by the NSW Supreme Court earlier - including once when he was caught eating beetroot toast with an alleged bikie - and had breached bail numerous times before. He argued there was no bail condition that could mitigate the risks. Legal Aid defence lawyer Courtney Young made the successful bid for bail, submitting that Vanderlight had never been in full-time custody, had a secure residence and had strong ties to the area. Ms Young said there would be an identification issue and said there were likely to be delays in the case as it had already been under investigation for eight months. She said Vanderlight would have to wait for the police brief of evidence to be served. Ms Bushby said she was satisfied that Vanderlight had "criminal associations" by way of OMCGs but that strict bail conditions could mitigate the risks. Vanderlight was released on conditions including to abide by an overnight curfew, report to police three days per week, surrender his passport, and not contact a list of people or attend certain addresses, including in Maitland, Grafton and Gunnedah. Police confirmed the 34-year-old man was arrested by Raptor North officers at Newcastle Airport on Monday morning as part of an investigation into an alleged kidnapping incident that occurred in December 2024. He was taken to Raymond Terrace Police Station and charged with one count of taking or detaining a person in company, with the intent of obtaining an advantage. The police case is that the alleged victim was detained in December last year, driven along the M1 to a dirt road and threatened before he jumped over a fence and escaped. Vanderlight was not required to enter a plea in bail court on August 12 and the matter was adjourned to October 8. ANTI-BIKIE police have swooped on a man at Newcastle Airport as part of an eight-month investigation into an alleged kidnapping in the Hunter. Officers from the specialist Raptor North squad arrested Troy Vanderlight, 34, at the Williamtown airport at 8.15am on Monday, August 12. It's alleged that Vanderlight has associations with the Hells Angels. The Tenambit man spent the night in custody before fronting court via video link yesterday, where magistrate Elizabeth Bushby released him on bail, on a string of strict conditions. Police prosecutor Sergeant Daniel Grace opposed Vanderlight's release. He said Vanderlight had previously been sentenced for offences related to outlaw motorcycle gang (OMCG) activity during an earlier "tit for tat". Sergeant Grace said the fresh kidnapping charge was also an alleged OMCG matter. Sergeant Grace told the court the prosecution case was strong, Vanderlight was a fail-to-appear risk, and he or his associates could interfere with witnesses in the case. Vanderlight's record showed he had a "reluctance" to comply with court orders, Sergeant Grace said. The court heard Vanderlight had twice breached serious crime prevention orders imposed by the NSW Supreme Court earlier - including once when he was caught eating beetroot toast with an alleged bikie - and had breached bail numerous times before. He argued there was no bail condition that could mitigate the risks. Legal Aid defence lawyer Courtney Young made the successful bid for bail, submitting that Vanderlight had never been in full-time custody, had a secure residence and had strong ties to the area. Ms Young said there would be an identification issue and said there were likely to be delays in the case as it had already been under investigation for eight months. She said Vanderlight would have to wait for the police brief of evidence to be served. Ms Bushby said she was satisfied that Vanderlight had "criminal associations" by way of OMCGs but that strict bail conditions could mitigate the risks. Vanderlight was released on conditions including to abide by an overnight curfew, report to police three days per week, surrender his passport, and not contact a list of people or attend certain addresses, including in Maitland, Grafton and Gunnedah. Police confirmed the 34-year-old man was arrested by Raptor North officers at Newcastle Airport on Monday morning as part of an investigation into an alleged kidnapping incident that occurred in December 2024. He was taken to Raymond Terrace Police Station and charged with one count of taking or detaining a person in company, with the intent of obtaining an advantage. The police case is that the alleged victim was detained in December last year, driven along the M1 to a dirt road and threatened before he jumped over a fence and escaped. Vanderlight was not required to enter a plea in bail court on August 12 and the matter was adjourned to October 8. ANTI-BIKIE police have swooped on a man at Newcastle Airport as part of an eight-month investigation into an alleged kidnapping in the Hunter. Officers from the specialist Raptor North squad arrested Troy Vanderlight, 34, at the Williamtown airport at 8.15am on Monday, August 12. It's alleged that Vanderlight has associations with the Hells Angels. The Tenambit man spent the night in custody before fronting court via video link yesterday, where magistrate Elizabeth Bushby released him on bail, on a string of strict conditions. Police prosecutor Sergeant Daniel Grace opposed Vanderlight's release. He said Vanderlight had previously been sentenced for offences related to outlaw motorcycle gang (OMCG) activity during an earlier "tit for tat". Sergeant Grace said the fresh kidnapping charge was also an alleged OMCG matter. Sergeant Grace told the court the prosecution case was strong, Vanderlight was a fail-to-appear risk, and he or his associates could interfere with witnesses in the case. Vanderlight's record showed he had a "reluctance" to comply with court orders, Sergeant Grace said. The court heard Vanderlight had twice breached serious crime prevention orders imposed by the NSW Supreme Court earlier - including once when he was caught eating beetroot toast with an alleged bikie - and had breached bail numerous times before. He argued there was no bail condition that could mitigate the risks. Legal Aid defence lawyer Courtney Young made the successful bid for bail, submitting that Vanderlight had never been in full-time custody, had a secure residence and had strong ties to the area. Ms Young said there would be an identification issue and said there were likely to be delays in the case as it had already been under investigation for eight months. She said Vanderlight would have to wait for the police brief of evidence to be served. Ms Bushby said she was satisfied that Vanderlight had "criminal associations" by way of OMCGs but that strict bail conditions could mitigate the risks. Vanderlight was released on conditions including to abide by an overnight curfew, report to police three days per week, surrender his passport, and not contact a list of people or attend certain addresses, including in Maitland, Grafton and Gunnedah. Police confirmed the 34-year-old man was arrested by Raptor North officers at Newcastle Airport on Monday morning as part of an investigation into an alleged kidnapping incident that occurred in December 2024. He was taken to Raymond Terrace Police Station and charged with one count of taking or detaining a person in company, with the intent of obtaining an advantage. The police case is that the alleged victim was detained in December last year, driven along the M1 to a dirt road and threatened before he jumped over a fence and escaped. Vanderlight was not required to enter a plea in bail court on August 12 and the matter was adjourned to October 8. ANTI-BIKIE police have swooped on a man at Newcastle Airport as part of an eight-month investigation into an alleged kidnapping in the Hunter. Officers from the specialist Raptor North squad arrested Troy Vanderlight, 34, at the Williamtown airport at 8.15am on Monday, August 12. It's alleged that Vanderlight has associations with the Hells Angels. The Tenambit man spent the night in custody before fronting court via video link yesterday, where magistrate Elizabeth Bushby released him on bail, on a string of strict conditions. Police prosecutor Sergeant Daniel Grace opposed Vanderlight's release. He said Vanderlight had previously been sentenced for offences related to outlaw motorcycle gang (OMCG) activity during an earlier "tit for tat". Sergeant Grace said the fresh kidnapping charge was also an alleged OMCG matter. Sergeant Grace told the court the prosecution case was strong, Vanderlight was a fail-to-appear risk, and he or his associates could interfere with witnesses in the case. Vanderlight's record showed he had a "reluctance" to comply with court orders, Sergeant Grace said. The court heard Vanderlight had twice breached serious crime prevention orders imposed by the NSW Supreme Court earlier - including once when he was caught eating beetroot toast with an alleged bikie - and had breached bail numerous times before. He argued there was no bail condition that could mitigate the risks. Legal Aid defence lawyer Courtney Young made the successful bid for bail, submitting that Vanderlight had never been in full-time custody, had a secure residence and had strong ties to the area. Ms Young said there would be an identification issue and said there were likely to be delays in the case as it had already been under investigation for eight months. She said Vanderlight would have to wait for the police brief of evidence to be served. Ms Bushby said she was satisfied that Vanderlight had "criminal associations" by way of OMCGs but that strict bail conditions could mitigate the risks. Vanderlight was released on conditions including to abide by an overnight curfew, report to police three days per week, surrender his passport, and not contact a list of people or attend certain addresses, including in Maitland, Grafton and Gunnedah. Police confirmed the 34-year-old man was arrested by Raptor North officers at Newcastle Airport on Monday morning as part of an investigation into an alleged kidnapping incident that occurred in December 2024. He was taken to Raymond Terrace Police Station and charged with one count of taking or detaining a person in company, with the intent of obtaining an advantage. The police case is that the alleged victim was detained in December last year, driven along the M1 to a dirt road and threatened before he jumped over a fence and escaped. Vanderlight was not required to enter a plea in bail court on August 12 and the matter was adjourned to October 8.
ABC News
31-07-2025
- ABC News
Police prepare for Rebels bikie ride ahead of last hurrah for gang colours
Police say they are ready to take swift action against the Rebels Motorcycle Club as members begin their "last hurrah" ride into northern Victoria, weeks out from tougher laws banning club colours coming into effect. About 200 bikies from the outlaw motorcycle gang (OMCG) are expected to ride into Mildura in the state's far north-west on Thursday evening, before heading to Swan Hill for the start of the club run to Melbourne on Friday. Mildura police Inspector Dave Barrie said officers would be on high alert to ensure community safety. "We'll reiterate to them [Rebel Motorcycle Club members] that their intention should be to come to town, enjoy their weekend and not make a nuisance of themselves. "They work with us in the lead-up to these things." The new laws banning the public display of OMCG colours and gang insignia come into force in late August. The Victorian government has indicated it is yet to decide which clubs will come under the new regulations, but the government's own Engage Victoria list puts outlaw bikie gangs such as the Rebels, Finks, Mongols and Comanchero in the mix. The laws will ban the display of club names, logos, or marks that indicate membership, including the "1%" patch for bikies who consider themselves a part of the criminal element of a club. Bikies caught wearing banned club colours or insignia face a maximum fine of $12,210.60 and $61,053 for the club. Echo and VIPER taskforces, specialist resources from Melbourne, and local police from Victoria and New South Wales will set up a checkpoint at an undisclosed location to ensure the riders comply with road rules and behave. This weekend will be the latest interaction between police and the Rebels, as authorities try to address the club's footing in the regional city of Mildura. In April, anti-gang squads charged three people, including a patched member of the Rebels Motorcycle Club, over alleged drug trafficking, seizing 2 kilograms of methamphetamine, worth an estimated $1 million. A month later, VIPER taskforce detectives returned to Mildura and Swan Hill, targeting OMCGs and organised crime groups in the areas. The week-long operation resulted in 20 arrests for firearm, weapon and drug offences. Police told the ABC at the time that 42 charges were laid following the arrests and officers seized eight guns, $24,000 in cash, and drugs including methamphetamine, cocaine, and cannabis. In August 2023, seven gang members were arrested and three were charged with ammunition, weapons and drug offences.
Daily Telegraph
24-05-2025
- Daily Telegraph
Bikies, brawls and beating death: Shannon Althouse Pt.1
As the former Rebels sergeant-at-arms, Shannon Althouse lived a dangerous life. He was the muscle for the club – if anyone had a problem with the bikies, Shannon dealt with it. From being imprisoned twice to almost dying after he was run over by a car, the ex bikie reveals what goes on inside maximum security and why he ultimately left the OMCG. Get episodes of I Catch Killers a week early and ad-free, as well as bonus content, by subscribing to Crime X+ today. Like the show? Get more at Advertising enquiries: newspodcastssold@ Questions for Gary: icatchkillers@ Get in touch with the show by joining our Facebook group, and visiting us on Instagram or Tiktok.
