Policewoman intimidated by Hells Angel MC member

Toronto, Ontario,Canada  (September 28, 2018) BTN — An Hells Angel member who allegedly threatened a Montreal policewoman with a camera in the back last summer will have to explain herself to justice.

Earl Noseworthy, a member in good standing of the East Toronto chapter of the "Angels of Hell", was charged with "intimidating a justice system associate or journalist" on September 17.

Hells Angels MC traffic stop

Absent at the Saint-Hyacinthe courthouse for his appearance, 52-year-old Noseworthy was represented in court by his lawyer, François Taddeo.

Party in Montérégie

The alleged events date back to August 10 as 500 members and supporters of the country's Hells Angels converged on Saint-Charles-sur-Richelieu, in Montérégie, for their biggest annual gathering, the "Canada Run".

The police had erected some roadblocks to check the identity of the bikers and inspect their Harley Davidson, including one on Highway 20, at Beloeil.

They also took the opportunity to photograph the intercepted Hells in order to update the police information banks, which is a common practice.

As the bikers drove in groups, these checks could take a while before everyone could leave. Almost all of them have been cooperative.

Playing tough

But the taking of photos did not happen quickly enough to the taste of the accused. According to our sources, Noseworthy would have wanted to play tough with the police SPVM responsible for photographing the Hells.

Police officers witnessed the scene. Other Hells Angels MC members too, and all did not find it funny. One of the leaders of the Ontario bikers' delegation allegedly blamed Noseworthy, who was arrested by the Sûreté du Québec and released.

The Accused: Earl Noseworthy

Biker war

The charge against Earl Noseworthy, who lives in Keswick, near Toronto, is punishable by up to 14 years in prison. Judge Gilles Charpentier postponed further judicial proceedings in November.

This offense was added to the Criminal Code in 2002 by the federal government as a result of the murders of two prison guards and the attempted murder of former Montreal Journal reporter Michel Auger during the biker war that killed more than 160 people in Quebec.

Noseworthy is a former member of Hamilton's Satan's Choice, a motorcycle club adsorbed by the Hells Angels in 2000, according to court documents.

SOURCE: TVA Nouvelles

Ex motorcycle club leader turned snitch arrested

Saskatoon, Canada (September 27, 2018) BTN — A former informant who helped Saskatoon police bring down several motorcycle clubs in the Project Forseti case is now facing 26 weapons-related charges.

Noel Harder, 39, was arrested Tuesday evening after police received reports of a man driving an SUV with a gun.

Police said in a release Wednesday morning they found the SUV parked near the intersection of Powe Street and Rayner Avenue around 5:45 p.m. and conducted a high-risk traffic stop.

The driver was found to be in possession of a loaded handgun, ammunition, a knife, an imitation firearm, bear spray, an ax and an undisclosed amount of fentanyl.

Harder was vice president of the Fallen Saints motorcycle club and was working with the Hells Angels motorcycle club when he began working with police in Project Forseti.

The former cocaine dealer recorded conversations with other club members, leading to raids in January 15 and charges against 14 men.

Harder later sued the federal government and RCMP for breaking promises when he was placed into witness protection, claiming officials endangered his life.

When reached by phone Thursday, Harder’s lawyer Tony Merchant said he wasn’t aware of the charges against his client.

“As I understand it, (Harder) had indicated that for his own defence he needed to have a weapon and the prosecutor knew that,” he said.

Harder is expected to make his third court appearance Thursday afternoon in Saskatoon Provincial Court.

SOURCE: CKOM

Starting his scoot

A club member starting his motorcycle 

Anti-bikie laws passed by Tasmanian Parliament

Tasmania, Australia (September 27, 2018) BTN — Anti-consorting laws designed to combat Motorcycle Clubs is gaining a foothold in Tasmania have passed through State Parliament.

The state's Legislative Council agonised over the legislation late into Wednesday night before holding a final vote on Thursday morning.

The House of Assembly then ticked off on changes made by the Upper House on Thursday afternoon.

The quick passage of this bill, which was only tabled in Parliament 10 days ago, follows legislation passed at the end of August to outlaw motorcycle gang members from wearing colours.

The Government hopes the anti-consorting bill will disrupt organised crime groups such as motorcycle clubs by making it illegal for a convicted offender to consort with another convicted offender within five years of being given an official warning notice.

Five amendments to the bill made by the Legislative Council were accepted by the House of Assembly on Thursday, including one that would allow a court to issue a stay on a warning notice if it was being appealed by the recipient.

Police Minister Michael Ferguson described the amendment as unnecessary and unwarranted and said he was "not happy" about it, but reluctantly agreed to ensure the bill would pass.

Upper House agonises over bill

Debate in the Legislative Council inched forward late into Wednesday night, with individual words in the legislation being singled out and objected to by Labor and independent members alike amid widespread concerns about civil rights, unintended consequences and the powers of law enforcement authorities in relation to a number of clauses and sub-clauses.

Leader of Government Business Leonie Hiscutt told opponents the Government was "very disappointed" by their stonewalling, repeatedly defending the legislation as having "the most safeguards of all the state and territories in the country".

"Police have done an enormous amount of work on this ... there's still misunderstandings of the bill," she said.

In an at-times emotional marathon sitting, independent member for Huon, Robert Armstrong, who identifies as Aboriginal, warned members they could "put the whole Aboriginal community offside" with the debate over a particular sub-clause involving traditional Aboriginal definitions of family.

"I'm not quite sure how to put this across because I've got to be careful," he said.

"It's a very sensitive issue and you could put the whole Aboriginal community offside. I just warn people ... don't dig too deep here."

'We're between a rock and a hard place'

Ms Hiscutt told the House the Tasmanian Bar had raised concerns about "possible inequities" if the bill was expanded to include a broader definition of family "to include extended family such as uncles, aunts, cousins of Aboriginal people only, creating an inequity between Aboriginal people and non-Aboriginal people".

"It would not be appropriate to allow the extended definition of family for one race of people but only immediate family member relations for others."

Ms Hiscutt said it was important not to offend but that a "broader concept of extended family" would widen the defence substantially, rendering the proposed consorting laws ineffective. But she also said "if it's the tradition, it will be respected".

Labor accused the Government of failing to consult with the Tasmanian Aboriginal community over the proposed legislation, demanding proof it had spoken with Aboriginal leaders. Independent MP Rob Valentine told the House the issue was "a very sensitive thing" and "in a sense it puts us between a rock and a hard place".

"I'm going to support the Government's amendment ... at the end of the day, it will be the Government that will have to deal with how they've chosen to go forward on this," he said.

SOURCE: ABC.net