Former Hells Angels president dies after being hit by car

Porirua, New Zealand  (March 28, 2018) BTN — Former Hells Angels president Shane Bullock has died after he was hit by a car while riding his motorbike in Porirua, New Zealand.

He was rushed to hospital with a broken pelvis and sternum after being hit on Thursday. Though he was due to have surgery on Tuesday, he passed away on Monday morning. Bullock had been part of the Hells Angels Motorcycle Club for 26 years.

Shane Bullock (middle) with son Jack and daughter Hazel - Supplied Photo

Hundreds of people are expected to flock to Whanganui for the funeral this weekend.

His son Jack said Bullock was a "big cuddly family guy" and "a big bad ass". His daughter Hazel said that she could not imagine life without him, and Jack said she was "Dad's little princess".

SOURCE: News Hub

Source: Biker Trash Network

Movie Propaganda Continued

A still from the movie "A Bronx Tale" 

Hells Angels MC founding member dies in car accident

Kew, Melbourne, Australia (March 27, 2018) BTN — Chris “Ball Bearing’’Coelho, a founding member of the Hells Angels in Australia — has died.

Chris Coelho, who was an integral part of the Hells Angels legendary rock n’ roll festivals in Broadford, was killed in a car accident near Kew on Friday.

Related | Hells Angels MC turns 70 years old

His wife, Dee, said it was a shock and that her husband had also been battling health issues for some time.

But Dee said he would be remembered for the mark he left, especially on the Australian music scene.

“It’s shocking what’s happened,’’ she said.

Chris “Ball Bearing’’ Coelho with his wife Dee in 2013.

“He lived a great life. It feels like it’s been cut short by this happening.

“Chris was a wonderful and genuine man. He took part in life and lived it to the fullest.

The couple in 2013.

“He was spontaneous. He liked to have parties and have fun and was also very protective of people.

“I’m amazed every single day with some of the events he was a part of. He had created very special moments for people.’’

The life of an outlaw did have its moments.

In the early years as an outlaw bikie, Coelho wore a chrome helmet and was nicknamed “Ball Bearing’’. It stuck. The avid Harley Davidson rider and guitar player had travelled the world and met the famous and infamous. Among them was riding across America with the Hells Angels’ most notable member “Sonny’’ Barger.

And Coelho would regale stories of a singalong with his musical heroes Johnny Cash, June Carter and Willie Nelson in a hotel room. But he also had other moments.

Chris “Ball Bearing’’ Coelho left the Hells Angels to get married.

Coelho lived through an internal Hells Angels split turned violent over the production of speed.

He would survive the conflict, but not before he was shot in the chest.

Aged 68 Coelho retired from the Hells Angels in 2012 after 42 years membership of the world’s most infamous outlaw motorcycle club. He had been an office bearer, including a chapter president.

But as a new breed of bikie entered the club, Coelho knew his time as an Angel was over.

He handed in his “colours’’ soon after his public arrest following a raid by police on the Angels’ Melbourne clubhouse in Fairfield. In a show of force, police had ripped off the front gates to the Heidelberg Rd chapter which was adorned with the Hells Angels “Death Head’’ insignia.

Coelho was charged for being in possession of a small amount of cannabis and an ornamental gun.

As he was escorted from the clubhouse, Coelho would have one last surprise for police investigators, who at the time were attempting to thwart a war with the Bandidos.

They all knew of “Ball Bearing’’ and as they escorted him towards the front door to cuff him, he requested to take a jacket from the cloak stand.

Chris “Ball Bearing’’ Coelho was arrested during a police raid.

Among the hoodies and jackets, he picked out his Hells Angels cut (vest) as a media throng waited outside.

It was his last public act of defiance as a Hells Angel.

Coelho has been part of the fabric of Australian music in stories told by bands such as Midnight Oil, who had played at the Broadford festival organised by the bikie club in the 1980s. Oils drummer Rob Hirst would tell of an arrow, shot into an office in Manly, and an attached note demanding they play the gig.

The note was signed “Ball Bearing”.

When they arrived in Broadford as requested, they would play until “Mr Bearing’’ raised his finger.

In 2013, Coelho told the Herald Sun his time as a Hells Angel had to end but remained friends with many of them. Part of his reasoning to “retire’’ was his impending marriage to Dee, 20 years his junior. He was also adamant he wanted no part in any emerging conflict with the Bandidos at the time.

His timing was impeccable. Within weeks the Bandidos’ Toby Mitchell had been ambushed and shot by Hells Angels. After their wedding in 2013, they rode through the middle of Australia. Coelho draped his Harley’s handlebars with Australian flags. Dee rode a smaller Harley alongside him.

Written by Anthony Dowsley

SOURCE: Herald Sun

Source: Biker Trash Network

Chosen Few MC Clubhouse fire suspicious

Columbus, GA, USA (March 26, 2018) BTN — Local arson investigators are looking into an early Sunday morning fire at a midtown Columbus motorcycle club, Fire Marshal Ricky Shores said.

The call to Columbus Fire and Emergency Medical Services came just before 2 a.m. for the Chosen Few Motor Cycle Club at 1238 Midway Drive. Firefighters from the Brown Avenue and downtown stations were able to quickly bring situation under control and keep it from doing serious damage to the building, Shores said.

There were three separate fires started on the exterior of the building, Shores said, declining to go into additional details.

There was no one in the building at the time of the fire, but people had been there earlier in the evening, Shores said.

The Chosen Few Motorcycle Club on Midway Drive

The fire marshal called the fire suspicious, but declined to go into additional details.

No arrests have been made or charges filed, Shores said.

Chosen Few Motor Cycle Club is national organization with a Columbus chapter. The storefront on Midway Drive is a private club used by members.

SOURCE: Ledger-Enquirer

Source: Biker Trash Network

Hand Sign

Family of shot biker still seeking justice 1 year later

Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA (March 25, 2018) BTN — This week will mark one year since a deadly shooting at a northwest Albuquerque car wash, in which Earl Roybal was killed while his motorcycle was drying in one of those car wash bays.

Related | Man who admitted to shooting biker claims self-defense

A year later, Roybal's family and friends say there has been no justice; the person who shot him hasn't been charged.

The district attorney's office reviewed the evidence and ruled that the March 26, 2017 shooting was in self-defense. Meanwhile, family members have hired a private investigator to review that evidence with the hopes that charges could still come in this case.

Earl Roybal

Now, they are doing what they can to keep his memory alive.

"We still don't feel justice was delivered in this case," said Raymond Gallegos of the New Mexico Motorcycle Rights Organization. "The DA did review the case. It was up to the DA to prosecute that, but we don't feel that the family saw justice. We don't feel that it was still a self-defense shooting. We don't feel like it was justifiable self-defense."

Roybal's loved ones will be gathering for a motorcycle ride and vigil on Monday. The ride will begin at Bullhead Park at 6:15 p.m. and go towards the Hose It Car Wash on Coors Boulevard, where they will gather for a candlelight vigil expected to start around 7 p.m.

SOURCE: KOB4 News
Source: Biker Trash Network

Hells Angels murder case in Canada continues on

Nova Scotia, Canada (March 22, 2018) BTN — The Crown may seek to appeal to the Supreme Court of Canada a ruling by Nova Scotia's highest court that quashed the convictions against one of the men accused in a Hells Angels murder nearly two decades ago.

Dean Daniel Kelsie, 45, was found guilty of first-degree murder and conspiracy to commit murder in the Oct. 3, 2000, shooting death of Sean Simmons in the lobby of an apartment building in north-end Dartmouth.

But last December, his convictions were overturned by the Nova Scotia Court of Appeal and a new trial ordered.

On Thursday morning, Kelsie was brought into Nova Scotia Supreme Court to provide an update on his status. He told the judge his case has stalled because the Crown is still considering whether to appeal the Court of Appeal ruling to the Supreme Court of Canada.

"I think it's going to be pursued," Crown prosecutor Peter Craig said in reference to a possible appeal. "The ultimate decision hasn't yet been made."

Kelsie said until the Crown makes a decision on appeal, "My situation is stagnant."

"Three judges already quashed my sentence after 18 years in prison," Kelsie said, referring to the three-member Court of Appeal panel who ruled in December. Kelsie has been in custody since his arrest in 2001.

At Kelsie's first trial in 2003, the jury heard that Simmons was shot to death because he'd allegedly had an affair with a Hells Angel. Kelsie was accused of pulling the trigger.

Two other men, Neil William Smith and Wayne Alexander James, are both serving life sentences for their roles in Simmons's killing. A fourth man, Steven Gareau, was set free last month after a judge ended the prosecution against him.

Gareau had been twice found guilty of first-degree murder, but both convictions were overturned on appeal. Last month, Justice Campbell ruled that it would be unfair to subject Gareau to a third trial.

On Thursday, Kelsie told Justice Glen McDougall that Toronto lawyer Philip Campbell has agreed to represent him in his new trial, but that Campbell was unable to appear with him on this occasion.

Without Campbell present, McDougall agreed to a request to put Kelsie's matter over for two weeks to allow time to sort things out.

SOURCE: CBC News – Nova Scotia

Source: Biker Trash Network

Police planning on increase in Outlaws, Hells Angels and Rock Machine activity

Peterborough, Ontario, (March 21, 2018) BTN — Peterborough Police Service anticipate the city will see an increase in Outlaw Motorcycle Club (OMC) activity this year.

“We’re kind of here for the picking right now,” says Peterborough police Insp. Larry Charmley, adding that the Outlaws, Hells Angels, Rock Machine and other motorcycle groups are looking for opportunities here.

“They are worldwide and want to take over territory.”

He says biker activity and representation began to increase in the fall of 2017 and will become more visible this spring.

“We do know that there has been Hell's Angels that have been in town, and the Rock Machine has also been around town so we suspect that we are going to see them here,” adds Charmley.

Peterborough Police say Outlaw Motorcycle gang activity is expected to pick up in 2018. The Outlaws on Park and Perry streets burned to the ground last March, but they have relocated to this clubhouse on Parkhill Road East. - Todd Vandonk/Metroland

According to sources, a recent drug bust involving city and Peterborough County OPP involved people associated with Hell's Angels.

Last March the former Outlaws clubhouse at the corner of Perry and Park streets burned to the ground in a suspected arson.

Charmley says the investigation is ongoing.

“You don’t get a lot of people wanting to talk to the police about what happened,” he says, adding he doesn't think the arson is a result of bikers fighting for turf.

The Outlaws has since moved to a less visible clubhouse located on Parkhill Road East.

There’s been little activity there accept at the end of last year when the clubhouse held a memorial for one of its members. He says the other criminal organizations haven’t officially set up shop in the city.

“Not a clubhouse but we are suspecting that can happen this year and that there could be another motorcycle club in town,” Charmley explains.

SOURCE: Peterborough This Week

Source: Biker Trash Network

We're the One Per Centers

Alleged Suicide Crew MC Member arrested over near miss of cop

Headingley, Manitoba, Canada (March 21, 2018) BTN  — An alleged full-patch member of a motorcycle club is in custody after the RCMP says one of its officers was almost hit by a passing motorist during a traffic stop near Winnipeg.

Police at Headingley say the Mountie was on traffic duty on the Perimeter Highway late last Saturday night and was standing beside an auto he had pulled over when he was nearly struck by another vehicle.

Officers went after it and noticed it was being driven erratically before coming to a stop.

During the arrest, police noted the male driver was wearing a biker vest from the Suicide Crew MC, and while at the detachment he refused to provide a breath sample and allegedly uttered threats and became combative.

Stephen McInnis, a 46-year-old Calgary resident, is facing charges that include impaired driving, uttering threats and assaulting a police officer.

McInnis was to appear in a Winnipeg courtroom on Wednesday.

SOURCE: Calgary Sun

Source: Biker Trash Network

Guns, drugs and cash seized in anti-bikie sting

Sydney, Australia (March 21, 2018) BTN — Drugs, guns, and cash were seized after police raided seven outlaw motorcycle club's linked properties across Canberra on Wednesday. A 35-year-old Evatt man was charged with firearm related offences as a result of the sting, which coincided with operations interstate as part of a national day of action targeting outlaw motorcycle clubs.

ACT police chief Justine Saunders said the raids showed bikies that the capital was a hostile jurisdiction and pledged to continue to push for tough new laws targeting criminal motorcycle clubs. The ACT hosts chapters of three major outlaw clubs, the Nomads, Comanchero, and Rebels.

A feud between the Nomads and Comanchero has been blamed for tit-for-tat violence, including drive-by shootings, in Canberra's south.

Nationally, Wednesday's day of action was led by Operation Morpheus, the national Outlaw Motorcycle Gangs taskforce, while the Canberra search warrants were conducted by ACT Policing bikie busting group Taskforce Nemesis.

Police said the raids across the capital uncovered three firearms, 270 rounds of ammunition, about 28 grams of a substance believed to be methylamphetamine, about 12 grams of a substance believed to be cocaine, and more $50,000 in cash, suspected to be proceeds of crime.

In Victoria, seven people were charged with a variety of offences and police seized motorcycles, drugs, cash, computers and more than $1 million-worth of alcohol. ACT deputy chief police officer crime Mark Walters said disrupting the illegal activities of criminal gangs was a priority for ACT Policing.

"This action is just one part of our ongoing efforts to disrupt and dismantle criminal gangs in our community," Commander Walters said.

"Taskforce Nemesis", supported by every ACT Policing officer, continues to focus on serious and organised crime and apply pressure to members of criminal gangs.

"We will continue to work collaboratively with our state, territory and Commonwealth partners to address the threats posed by criminal gangs."

Assistant Commissioner Justine Saunders said community safety was paramount and ACT Policing would continue to work with the ACT Government on laws to prevent and deter serious and organised crime and associated firearms related violence in the capital.

"Whilst I fully support the principles of the Human Rights Act that we operate under here in the ACT, I will continue to pursue legislative reform that is proportionate to the threat that serious and organised crime presents to our community," she said.

The 35-year-old Evatt man charged with firearms offences will appear before the ACT Magistrate's Court at a later date.

SOURCE: The Sydney Morning Herald

Gatherings Continued

Early morning raids targets Hells Angels hangout

Quebec, Canada (March 20, 2018) BTN — About 120 police launched a series of early morning raids Tuesday that targeted alleged members of organized crime as well as a site in the Montérégie allegedly used by the Hells Angels.

The Sûreté du Québec says the operation also saw officers deployed at locales in the Outaouais and Montreal’s north shore.

No arrests had been reported as Tuesday morning.

A total of nine residences and 10 vehicles were the object of search warrants. Several sources said one of the sites raided in Saint-Charles-sur-Richelieu was used by the Hells Angels.

The raids are part of an investigation into drug trafficking and are the latest in a series of similar operations in various regions of Quebec carried out by an anti-organized crime division headed by the SQ.

The division is also composed of officers from the RCMP as well as the Montreal and Laval police departments.

SOURCE: Montreal Gazette

Source: Biker Trash Network

Bandidos MC making bid for Border turf

Albury, NSW, AU (March 20, 2018) BTN — The Bandidos motorcycle club are moving to establish a new chapter in the Albury-Wodonga area, according to police.

The news came to light during a case in Albury Local Court following the formation of a strike force last August. If successful, the motorcycle club would join the Black Uhlans and Gypsy Jokers, which both have local clubhouses.

Bandidos MC members stopped by police

The Albury Drug Squad and members of Strike Force Raptor, which targets bikies, conducted multiple raids against Bandidos members and associates in Albury in November and December.

They had been listening in on members and allegedly seized about 60 grams of ice hidden in a fake gas bottle during a traffic stop.

Police had formed the taskforce to tackle drug manufacturing and supply in the region, which had allegedly involved the purchase of precursor chemicals from Bunnings.

Four people, including a Wangaratta man Danny James Kearney, 26, were arrested.

Kearney, who is either a patched or prospective member of the motorcycle club, pleaded guilty to two charges on Monday.

The court heard the club was trying to establish a Border chapter and that officers had identified local members, which was followed by warrants to conduct surveillance.

The 26-year-old was caught during the phone tap planning an insurance scam worth $8460 after a car crash near Racecourse Road in Lavington on October 16.

He has also pleaded guilty to using a false document, which is linked to the use of fraudulent licences.

Clinton Roy Parkinson was also arrested during the bikie raids and charged with a string of drug supply and other offences.

He also appeared before court on Monday and said the police case was “weak as”.

“It’s got nothing to do with me,” he said.

“I don’t even know why I’m sitting here in jail.”

Solicitor Alina Yousif, who was also charged, appeared before court.

Magistrate Rodney Brender heard there was 300 gigabytes worth of material recorded by the police which had been supplied to her lawyer.

The court heard there had been moves to pin the blame on another co-accused, David Oddy, and shift the blame away from others allegedly involved.

SOURCE: The Border Mail

Source: Biker Trash Network

Hells Angels MC turns 70 years old

Houston, Texas (March 17, 2018) BTN — Founded in 1948, the Hells Angels motorcycle club has been a pop-culture mainstay for decades. Books, television and movies have mythologized them endlessly.

The story began on March 17, 1948, in San Bernardino, California, and the name is most-commonly attributed to the Howard Hughes movie of the same name, about World War II bombers. But that is where the military connection ends.

The Hells Angels website refutes the commonly held story that the group was founded by ex-military misfits and outcasts. Of course, later on, members from various branches of the military would join HAMC but it was not a military club to begin with.

The group's logo, the Death Head, is easily one of the most recognizable brands of the 20th century. It's since been copyrighted in the United States and internationally.

The "Berdoo" chapter is still alive and well to this day. That group's 70th anniversary party is scheduled for this weekend. There are no chapters listed in Texas.

More clubs began popping up soon after in and around California. In 1957 Sonny Barger founded the Oakland chapter. He would end up becoming the face of the club in pop-culture, and to this day remains a cult figure.

Barger's autobiography, "Hell's Angel," was released in 2001 to wide acclaim by motorcycle fans and others interested in the biker subculture.

By 1961 the club had a chapter in Auckland, New Zealand, and by the end of the decade the first of many chapters was founded in Europe. Australia, Africa and Brazil were still to come. Today there are even clubs in Turkey.

Nomad Dave shows off  his Hells Angels tattoo as he attends a Hells Angels rally.

In 1965 LIFE magazine went on the road with the outlaw bikers for a series of photos featuring the group riding and interacting with polite society. Two years later Hunter S. Thompson wrote the non-fiction book "Hell's Angels" about his time riding with the club.

They maintain an allure within mainstream culture, with TV shows like "Sons of Anarchy" adding to the mystique. Barger himself appeared on the show a handful of times. The motorcycle club in the TV show is purely fictional, although it does have some elements of the biker culture.

Deadly encounters between the Angels and other clubs have kept them squarely outside the lines, and the actions of bad apples among them haven't helped matters.

Article by: Craig Hlavaty

SOURCE: Houston Chronicle