Author: terry.katz

Witnesses describe what transpired before mass shooting in Baltimore City

• By: David Collins, WBAL-TV 11 August 20, 2024

• A heavy police presence remains in East Baltimore nearly 24 hours after shots rang out near a park in the Oliver neighborhood.

• Around 8 p.m. Sunday night, 36-year-old Anthony Martin was killed, and seven others were taken to the hospital with gunshot wounds after a mass shooting, investigators said.

• After police left, Roca and the Mayor’s Office of Neighborhood Safety and Engagement worked the neighborhood, offering resources and support.

• According to witnesses, the mass shooting started as an argument over a parking spot. It happened after a motorcycle gang gathered to remember a member who died in a balloon launch, witnesses said. Then, according to witnesses, a fight broke out.

• “One individual moved a cone and wanted his girlfriend or wife to park there. And that’s when it all started. It exploded,” said Chareese, a witness.

• Chareese said everyone was in a circle. She anticipated trouble and called 911.

• “We called 911 to report it,” Chareese said. “We called twice. I even put in a 311 complaint — I said there was a disturbance and noise in the community, and we are trying to keep the community clean.”

• Detectives spent most of Monday looking for witnesses and surveillance footage. 11 News counted eight cameras near the shooting scene alone and a Ring camera near the parking spot where the argument broke out.

• “I’ve never seen nothing like this all my life,” Chareese said. “I’ve lived here since birth, so it was very disturbing.”

• With the exception of Martin, all victims are now in stable condition. Investigators believe multiple people fired weapons. They found multiple firearms at the scene.

• Despite the crime scene, life goes on in Oliver. 11 News saw kids playing basketball Monday around the police tape. Neighbors said historic Oliver is a stable neighborhood.

• “Just last Sunday, they had a good giveaway in the park. Yesterday morning, before this event, they had a clothing drive giving away clothes to the community. There’s a lot of good things going on in the community — I feel like this event may overshadow all of that,” said someone who lives in the neighborhood.

• MONSE and Roca spent the rest of the afternoon knocking on doors, offering traumatized neighbors support and resources. They also started a 45-day engagement with the neighborhood.

• “To engage with the community, to share letters with phone numbers, email addresses and resources — to let people know we are here to have a presence,” said Stephanie Mavronis, director of MONSE.

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Hells Angels: First witness testifies to order of events at preliminary hearing

By MELANIE NGUYEN mnguyen@bakersfield.com August 14, 2024
https://www.bakersfield.com/news/hells-angels-first-witness-testifies-to-order-of-events-at-preliminary-hearing/article_5955efb0-5aa6-11ef-9039-fbe7b72c918d.html

The 69-year-old man who moved into the former Hells Angels Motorcycle Club’s clubhouse did not have a problem with members from the group coming to collect club property the first time.

However, when members of the club allegedly started taking items that did not belong to them and threatening the victim not to contact law enforcement, James Dickens began to fear for his life
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Hells Angels: Prosecutor establishes one gang expert; one pending

By MELANIE NGUYEN mnguyen@bakersfield.com August 16, 2024

As the preliminary hearing for four Bakersfield Hells Angels accused of robbery continued Friday, two of the prosecutor’s witnesses were called as gang experts — but only one was approved by the judge to give expert opinions.

One of the lead investigators — Kern County Sheriff’s deputy Austin Burgess — in the alleged robbery case against Ricardo Alvarez, Armando Villasenor, Joshua Zavala and Joshua Vaugh testified for a second time Friday.

ARE THERE HELLS ANGELS GANGS IN THE UK?
Since their inception in 1969, the British Hells Angels have painted themselves as lovable rogues – but their rap sheet tells a darker story.

Secrets of The Hells Angels goes deep into the world of the secretive and notorious biker club revealing a much more violent and devious group than anyone realised. The show airs Tuesdays at 10pm on Sky

https://www.history.co.uk/articles/hells-angels-gangs-uk

The Hells Angels is the biggest biker gang in the world and has always been primarily associated with the USA. Indeed, when we think of highway crime in the UK, we’re probably more likely to call to mind figures like Dick Turpin from yesteryear.

But despite its all-American image, the Hells Angels now have a reported global membership of more than 6,000 bikers in almost 60 countries – including the UK. Read on to find out more about the origins of one of the most dangerous crime gangs in Britain, as well as their attempts to cultivate a pristine public image and the frequent media controversies and court cases which undermine them.

A brush with The Beatles

As unlikely as it sounds, the first time the Hells Angels set foot on British soil was at the request of pop sensations The Beatles. The Fab Four have rubbed shoulders with a wide variety of famous faces, including Queen Elizabeth II, but the rough-and-ready biker gang are perhaps one of their more surprising acquaintances.

The Beatle responsible is even more of an eyebrow-raiser. John Lennon might be traditionally thought of as the more hedonistic and headstrong of the lineup, but it was actually George Harrison – often known as the quietest and most retiring of the group – who extended the invitation.

However, when a gaggle of bikers eventually turned up at Apple Corps studios, the roles were quickly reversed back to normal. At a Christmas party, Lennon very nearly suffered a punch in the face from an aggrieved Angel, while Harrison failed to even put in an appearance.

This now infamous visit occurred in 1968, but the first British chapters of the gang followed hot on its heels the next year. An East London chapter and a South London chapter sprang up in 1969 and, over the next few decades, plenty more followed. By 1995, it was believed that at least 12 chapters consisting of 250 members were in existence. Today, those figures are likely to have swelled significantly.

At the very least, the Angels are known to have factions in Ashfield, Essex, Kent, Lea Valley, London, Manchester, Northampton, Southampton, Tyne and Wear, Wales, Wessex, Windsor and Wolverhampton, as well as a so-called ‘Nomad Chapter’ which covers the length and breadth of the UK.

PR responsible for rapid growth

One of the principal reasons that the Hells Angels have spread so quickly throughout Britain is their uncharacteristically benign public image in the country. According to one of the lead officers of the National Criminal Intelligence Service (NCIS) tasked with monitoring biker crime in the 1990s, the group were viewed as largely harmless.

This is at stark odds with how the Angels are perceived in almost all other countries where they are present. In turn, they have been at pains to encourage this British image of themselves as lovable rogues and nothing more threatening. Indeed, the then-president of the London chapter, Alan ‘Snob’ Fisher, even took part in the Queen’s 2002 jubilee parade, raising money for a children’s charity in the process.

Meanwhile, the most notable Hells Angel in the UK was surely Ian ‘Maz’ Harris, up until his death in 2000. A frequent spokesperson for the group, Harris held the rare distinction of being an Angel with a PhD. His dissertation at Warwick University was entitled Myth and Reality in the Motorcycle Subculture.

But despite these carefully cultivated attempts at portraying a family-friendly image to the public, there is undoubtedly a darker side to the gang. Quite aside from their penchant for hedonistic partying and vehicle-based noise pollution, the Angels have been implicated in all kinds of court cases, from rape and murder to theft and drug trafficking. As such, they’re widely regarded as one of the most dangerous criminal groups in the UK.

A lengthy list of misdemeanours

While it would be impossible to fit all of the various scandals, controversies and allegations levelled at the Angels into a single article of this size, here’s a very brief rundown of some of their more notorious exploits:

• In 1972, just three years after the first British chapter was founded, three Hells Angels members were sentenced for their role in the rape of a 14-year-old girl in Winchester.

• In 1984, Hells Angels member David Richardson and his girlfriend were found guilty of murdering a 16-year-old boy. After serving 21 years in prison, Richardson then absconded and lived freely for nine years, before being re-arrested and incarcerated once more.

• In 1988, former Hells Angels member Leonard Tedham was sentenced to life in prison for the sexual assault and murder of a sex worker named Rita Parminter.

• The police have long suspected the group of having heavy involvement in drug and arms trafficking. Over the years, the Angels have been implicated in a variety of cocaine, marijuana and weapons smuggling scandals.

• Over the decades, the Angels have engaged in violent rivalries with a number of other notorious biker gangs, including the Luton Town MIGS, the Outlaws, Satan’s Slaves and the Vikings.

Of course, the Angels have always blamed these controversies on the actions of individuals, claiming that while they may have a few bad apples among their ranks, they’re largely a peaceful organisation. Indeed, ‘When we do right, nobody remembers… when we do wrong, nobody forgets’ is one of their more effective slogans.

Court docs: Violent crimes involving rival KC-area motorcycle ‘gangs’ land 18 people in jail

Warrant executed at Lee’s Summit home linked to cases

Heidi Schmidt KCTV 5 In Kansas City, Missouri August 15, 2024

https://www.kctv5.com/2024/08/16/court-docs-violent-crimes-involving-rival-kc-area-motorcycle-gangs-land-18-people-jail/

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (KCTV) – Plans involving assault, threats, and rival biker gangs land more than a dozen people behind bars. Court documents show the Kansas City area was at the center of the plot.

A grand jury indicted more than a dozen Kansas City members of the Pagan’s motorcycle club. The indictment accuses them of a series of armed assaults against rival motorcycle gangs. The indictment was unsealed Thursday.

A dozen law enforcement agencies executed seven search warrants, including one at a house near SW 3rd Street and Pryor Road in Lee’s Summit, Thursday morning.

Officers seized more than 40 firearms, thousands of rounds of ammunition, body armor and a marijuana grow operation.

Pegan’s is a violent criminal organization that engaged in racketeering, an enterprise that involved illegal drug trafficking.

Federal Indictment
The indictment charged the following 18 people, identified as members of the Pagan’s Motorcycle Club, with the following crimes.

Christopher “Mack” McGowen, 40, of Platte City, Mo.
assault with a dangerous weapon in aid of racketeering
assault with a dangerous weapon in aid of racketeering
attempting to commit assault with a dangerous weapon
discharging a firearm during an assault
assault resulting in serious bodily injury in aid of racketeering

Arthur “Straight Edge” Reynolds III, 48, Independence, Mo.
assault with a dangerous weapon in aid of racketeering
discharging a firearm during an assault

Jarrid “Hammer” Hammer, 45, Independence, Mo.
assault resulting in serious bodily injury in aid of racketeerin

Jeremiah “Pass Out” Hahn, 41, Cameron, Mo.
assault with a dangerous weapon in aid of racketeering
attempting to commit assault with a dangerous weapon

John “Krazy Legs” Hahn, 46, Cameron, Mo.
assault with a dangerous weapon in aid of racketeering
discharging a firearm during an assault

Charles “Crash” Smith, Jr., 38, Blue Springs, Mo.
assault with a dangerous weapon in aid of racketeering
attempting to commit assault with a dangerous weapon
discharging a firearm during an assault

James “Rugby” Prettyman, 42, Blue Springs, Mo.
assault with a dangerous weapon in aid of racketeering
attempting to commit assault with a dangerous weapon
discharging a firearm during an assault

Mark “One Shot” Cottman, 49, Kansas City, Mo.
assault with a dangerous weapon in aid of racketeering
discharging a firearm during an assault

Bryan “Fletch” Fletcher, 48, Lee’s Summit
assault with a dangerous weapon in aid of racketeering
discharging a firearm during an assault

Mark “Navajo” Crump, 54, Lee’s Summit, Mo.
assault resulting in serious bodily injury in aid of racketeering

Jeffrey “Got-It” Hannah, 42, Grain Valley, Mo.
assault with a dangerous weapon in aid of racketeering
discharging a firearm during an assault

Eric “EZ” Forsyth, Jr., 34, Oak Grove, Mo.
assault with a dangerous weapon in aid of racketeering
discharging a firearm during an assault

Robert “Flipper” Miller, 46, Joplin, Mo.
assault with a dangerous weapon in aid of racketeering
attempting to commit assault with a dangerous weapon
discharging a firearm during an assault

Brandon “Youngblood” Hodge, 25, Joplin, Mo.
assault with a dangerous weapon in aid of racketeering
discharging a firearm during an assault

Monty “Smoke” Mitchell, 58, Windsor, Mo.
assault with a dangerous weapon in aid of racketeering
attempting to commit assault with a dangerous weapon
discharging a firearm during an assault

Alan “Bones” Thornton, 40, Holden, Mo.
attempting to commit assault with a dangerous weapon

• John Travis “T-Bone” Fisher, 51, Sapulpa, Okla.
attempting to commit assault with a dangerous weapon

Graham “Dro” Gattis, 40, Panama City, Fla.
assault with a dangerous weapon in aid of racketeering
o discharging a firearm during an assaut

The indictment claims that Pagan’s used threats of violence to protect its territory from rival motorcycle clubs.
In Missouri the rival clubs include:
• Hells Angels
• Outlaws
• El Forastero
• Galloping Goose
• Sons of Silence
• Bandidos

• The court documents go on to show Pagan’s tried to eliminate the other gangs completely by assaulting, robbing, extorting and even trying to murder them.
Copyright 2024 KCTV. All rights reserved.

New comment on your post “Fear City Firing Squad Motorcycle Club.
Arson Suspect Arrest in Oklahoma”
Author: john.carroll (IP address: 216.198.166.93,
static93-216-198-166.dobsontechnologies.net)
Email: the.omgia@gmail.com
URL:
Comment:
Subjects arrested were members of the Homietos MC
Fear City Firing Squad MC is associated with the Outlaws MC
Fear City had previously beat down a Homietos Prospect

Naples Man Arrested for Murder in Connection to Fatal Portland Shooting

BY EDWARD TOMIC THE MAINE WIRE AUGUST 9, 2024

https://www.themainewire.com/2024/08/naples-man-arrested-for-murder-in-connection-to-fatal-portland-shooting/

After more than a week of investigating without an arrest, Portland Police announced on Friday that they have arrested a 47-year-old man from Naples in connection to the fatal July 30 shooting near Morrill’s Corner on Forest Avenue.

Police say a warrant was issued on Thursday for the arrest of Aaron Karp, 47, of Naples, for the charge of murdering 52-year-old Susan McHugh of Gray.

Karp surrendered after learning of the arrest warrant and was taken into custody at the Portland Police Station that evening, police say.

He is being held at the Cumberland County Jail with no bail.

According to Karp’s Facebook page, he is a tattoo artist at Almost Famous Tattoos & Piercing, which is on Forest Avenue in Portland near the site of the July 30 shooting.

Several photos on Karp’s Facebook page also appear to indicate that he is a member of the Maine chapter of the Outlaws Motorcycle Club, which is considered a criminal organization by the U.S. Department of Justice.
“I’d like to thank our investigators who worked so diligently on the case to enable us to make an arrest,” said Portland Police Chief Mark Dubois. “Their tireless efforts to bring the perpetrator to justice are a testament to the hard work they do each and every day.”

“This is just the beginning, as we will continue to work with the Office of the Maine Attorney General to build our case as we look for justice for Ms. McHugh,” Dubois added.

McHugh was one of four people injured in the July 30 shooting that were taken to the hospital.
She later died as a result of a gunshot wound, and her death was ruled a homicide after an autopsy by the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner.

Three other people injured in the shooting, a 45-year-old adult male of New Hampshire, a 48-year-old adult male from Yarmouth and a 51-year-old adult male of Gray also taken to Maine Medical Center for treatment and have since been released, police said.
Portland Police said Friday that while no further details on the case are being released at this time, the investigation remains “very active.”

“I also want to acknowledge the frustration many have felt with a perceived lack of transparency when it comes to this case,” said Chief Dubois.

“As I’ve mentioned before, our top priority in every case is to make sure the individuals responsible are brought to justice,” Dubois said. “At times, this includes not providing details to the public that some may seem benign, but in the reality of the case, are very much not benign.”

“We appreciate everyone’s understanding when it comes to this matter,” he added. “I also want to thank all of the agencies that have assisted us at the scene that night as well as with the ensuing investigation.”

Meth probe tied to Pagan’s Motorcycle Club results in 15 people indicted

By Buzz Trexler Elizabethton Star Tennessee August 8, 2024
Read more at: https://www.elizabethton.com/2024/08/08/meth-probe-tied-to-pagans-motorcycle-club-results-in-15-people-indicted/

State law enforcement agencies carried out a monthslong methamphetamine investigation that has resulted in 15 indictments, including two people tied to the Pagan’s Motorcycle Club, according to a Thursday release from the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation.

According to the release, special agents in TBI’s Drug Investigation Division and agents with the 5th Judicial District Drug Task Force in December began investigating the sale of large quantities of methamphetamine in Knox County and surrounding areas.

Along the way, agents developed information that Richard Carroll Baker, 45, of Knoxville, a member of the Pagan’s Motorcycle Club, was leading the distribution efforts.

The release said another club member, Brian Batson Fox, 58, of Dandridge, and numerous other individuals assisted Baker in distributing illegal narcotics throughout East Tennessee. Baker was charged with conspiracy to possess with intent to sell, deliver, or manufacture 300 grams or more of methamphetamine and three counts of sale/delivery of 26 grams or more of methamphetamine. Fox was charged with intent to sell, deliver, or manufacture 300 grams or more of methamphetamine.

Also indicted on charges of intent to sell, deliver, or manufacture 300 grams or more of methamphetamine were David Eugene Maples 45, of Knoxville; Joseph Shane Moore, 47, of Strawberry Plains; Larry Douglas Bradford, 53, of Knoxville; Erin Elizabeth Wright, also known as Erin Fleenor, 42, of Knoxville; Deidre Nicole Hood, 37, of Knoxville; Connie Sue High, 40, of Knoxville; Jill Marie Jones, 44, of Knoxville; LeAndrea Faye Osentoski, 50, of Knoxville; Alicia Mae Kristen Murphy, 37, of Knoxville; Bettina Clara Godwin, 41, of Knoxville; Charles Richard Robertson Jr., 63, of Knoxville; and Courtney Janene Lewis, 44, of Powell.

The TBI release said Knox County Sheriff’s Office, 9th Judicial District Drug Task Force, U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation are assisting with the investigation, which remains ongoing.

Pagan’s MC ‘Outlaw Gang’ According to the U.S. Department of Justice, the Pagan’s Motorcycle Club is recognized by law enforcement as an “Outlaw Motorcycle Gang.” A September 2020 report by the New Jersey State Commission of Investigation said the club was originally founded in 1959 as a fellowship of 13 motorcyclists in Prince George’s County, Maryland. The group evolved into a more formal organization in the 1960s and eventually joined other biker clubs in “embracing the criminal outlaw motorcycle gang philosophy.”

The report maintains the Pagans are considered by law enforcement to be among the largest and most crime-prone outlaw motorcycle gangs in the country, along with the Hells Angels, Outlaws, Bandidos and Sons of Silence.
In April, a Wilmington, N.C., jury found Pagan’s Motorcycle Club member John Wolfe guilty on several charges, including first-degree murder, conspiracy to commit a felony, and use of a firearm in commission of a felony. According to media reports, testimony revealed the victim had been in an intimate relationship with Wolfe’s partner Megan Ball.

In February 2023, Christopher Lamar Baker, 49, a Raleigh-based national leader of the Pagan’s Motorcycle Club, was sentenced to 900 months in prison following his conviction by a jury in September 2022 for drug trafficking, as well as firearm and money laundering charges.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office for Eastern District of North Carolina said in a release at the time that Baker was a “13” in the Pagan’s Motorcycle Club prior to his November 2021 arrest by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives (ATF). This designation means that he was one of only 13 national leaders.
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Biker gang bust marks latest success in East TN drug crackdown

by: Dominic Webster WATE News 6 Knoxville Tennessee Aug 8, 2024
https://www.wate.com/news/top-stories/biker-gang-bust-marks-latest-success-in-east-tn-drug-crackdown/

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WATE) — Members of a motorcycle gang were arraigned in court Thursday morning. The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation held a press conference announcing the more than a dozen people put behind bars.
TBI Director David Rausch did not mince words when talking about the Pagan Motorcycle Gang.

“Let me be clear, they are nothing more than a criminal organization made up of cowardly thugs,” Rausch said.
Fourteen people have been arrested and 15 face felony drug distribution charges related to methamphetamine sales in East Tennessee. Not all involved have a tie to the gang.

Several of those who were in custody appeared in court including the suspected leader of the gang, Richard Carroll Baker. He was joined in court by Deidre Hood, Courtney Lewis, David Maples, LeAndrea Osentoski, Alicia Murphy and Connie High. Rausch said our area is now safer with them off the streets.

“They prey on the vulnerable in our communities,” he said. “Because of the outstanding work of the women and men in policing, the local and state officers involved, our surrounding communities in Knoxville are now safer.”
The investigation started in December of last year as a spin-off of the 313 Initiative, a multi-agency effort to disrupt the supply of drugs from Detroit coming to the region. However, Rausch said investigators believe the narcotics in this case came from Atlanta.

“During the course of the investigation, agents learned that members of the Pagan Motorcycle club were involved in this distribution ring,” Knox County Attorney General Charme Allen said. “In this particular incident, gang members were wearing their cuts and vests while distributing drugs and collecting drug debts here in the East Tennessee area.”

Rausch said more charges could be coming as this investigation continues.

“These operations always lead to more interest and more information,” he said. “There’s always potential for more arrests to be made as a result of what we have learned in this case.”

Rausch also told 6 News there were other drugs involved in this investigation. However, Methamphetamine was their drug of choice. Twelve of those arrested have been arraigned in Knox County court. At this time the groups next court date has not been announced.

Security worker with links to Mongols loses licence after offering to be on PM’s guard detail

Jeremy Wilkinson Open Justice multimedia journalist, Palmerston North New Zealand August 2, 2024
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/security-worker-with-links-to-mongols-loses-licence-after-offering-to-be-on-pms-guard-detail/ONBBRJZ5MZCENJ7PCQICBKSJV4/

A security guard with links to the Mongols Motorcycle Club wrote to then-Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern offering to join her security team.

John Doherty also emailed the police with a proposal that he go undercover and conduct private investigations on their behalf.

However, Doherty didn’t hold a private investigator’s licence despite advertising extensively on social media that he was about to start his own security business.

“From Mobile and Static Security Patrols to Guard services, Cash and Bank Deliveries, and specialised security solutions for Weddings, Events, Functions, and more, Boulder Bank Security is your one-stop destination for premium protection,” that advertisement read.

Doherty even sent it directly to the police and to the Private Security Personnel Licensing Authority, which administers the kinds of licence that Doherty didn’t possess.

What he had was a Certificate of Approval that qualifies a person to work in positions such as a security guard or parking warden.

Despite the authority reminding Doherty that he needed a separate licence to run a security business, he continued to advertise on Facebook.

However, it was his links to the Mongols Motorcycle Club, a notorious criminal gang, that first called into question his suitability to hold even a Certificate of Approval and saw police apply for the authority to cancel it.

At a hearing held last month, Doherty was called on to explain his links to the gang, which he applied to join in 2022.

He described the members of the chapter as “clean-cut moderates” and said he wanted to join only for the camaraderie of a joint interest in American motorcycles.

He insisted that the Mongols were a club rather than a gang.

He told the authority that his first contact with the club was to discuss siting two containers on the land surrounding its clubhouse, installing 24-hour lighting and hydroponic systems to grow berries and capsicums.

“Mr Doherty’s view of the Mongols and his association with them is at best naive,” authority head Trish McConnell said in her recently released ruling.

“It is not reasonable for anyone to think that such a horticultural system at a gang clubhouse would only be used for growing vegetables and berries.”

McConnell said that, if police and the Private Security Personnel Licensing Authority had known about his association with the gang, he would never have been granted his last licence.

Along with Doherty’s connection to the Mongols, police raised concerns about an email he sent to Ardern in 2021 offering to be part of her security detail.

A police officer who spoke to him about that email said he appeared to be “delusional”, while Doherty claimed he was merely aiming high.

The same year he was involved in a drunken car crash from which he fled. He was also served with a harassment notice from police after becoming infatuated with a 17-year-old girl.

He then accused the police of “hounding” him over his association with the Mongols and of abusing their powers.
“I am capable of rubbing shoulders with gang members without going over to the dark side,” he said.

“It’s a case of honour amongst thieves, all of the Mongols were absolute gentlemen to each other and to me. I made it clear I was there for the camaraderie and the (nothing but American) motorcycles, not for illicit purposes.”

Doherty said he would visit the Mongols’ clubhouse bar for a drink on a Friday but had no intention of engaging in the criminal side of the organisation.

“I made it clear that, if I saw any criminal activity, then I would be out.

“From my side of things, I know my association was an innocent one and that was good enough for me.”
In regards to his offer to work in Ardern’s security detail, he said he felt he could have been useful.
“I think police saw themselves on one side of the fence and viewed me as being on the other side and didn’t consider whether I could be useful or not.”

Despite his insistence that it wasn’t necessary to cancel his security licence, that’s exactly what the Private Security Personnel Licensing Authority opted to do.

“I accept Mr Doherty no longer associates with the Mongols,” McConnell said in her ruling. “However, I do not accept his assurances that he will not in future associate with any other outlaw motorcycle gang given his insistence that such groups are clubs and not gangs and his failure to accept that such an association is not appropriate for a certificate holder.

“I also accept the police submission that Mr Doherty’s inability to accept such things as emailing the Prime Minister, offering his services to police to go undercover, and harassing a 17-year-old woman are not appropriate and his claim that he was only doing his civil duty raises questions about Mr Doherty’s fitness to be a security guard and his mental health in general.”

McConnell found Doherty guilty of misconduct and not suitable to hold a certificate of approval because of that.
“Mr Doherty still refuses to accept that he has done anything wrong, and he says it is the authority and police who are out of touch with normal behaviour and reality and not him.”

Jeremy Wilkinson is an Open Justice reporter based in Manawatū covering courts and justice issues with an interest in tribunals. He has been a journalist for nearly a decade and has worked for NZME since 2022.

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Hells Angels: Prosecutor’s motion to get DNA samples from four defendants approved
• By MELANIE NGUYEN mnguyen@bakersfield.com Jul 30, 2024

bakersfield.com/news/hells-angels-prosecutors-motion-to-get-dna-samples-from-four-defendants-approved/article_c47e4a2c-4ebb-11ef-98ce-0f40c1533b29.html

Four members of Bakersfield’s Hells Angels will give DNA samples to the prosecutor after a judge approved a motion Tuesday in Kern County Superior Court.

The prosecutor, Deputy District Attorney Jordan Houle, submitted a motion to request DNA from Ricardo Alvarez, 42, Armando Villasenor, 54, Joshua Zavala, 31, and Joshua Vaughn, 37, to test against items seized during the service of a search warrant.

Motorcycle Gang Member Busted in North Carolina Drug Trafficking Operation

Shore Bews Breaking Local News Report July 27, 2024
https://www.shorenewsnetwork.com/2024/07/27/motorcycle-gang-member-busted-in-north-carolina-drug-trafficking-operation/

WILMINGTON, N.C. – Ted Cannon, known as “Bam,” a member of the Georgia-based Ghostface Gangster group, was sentenced to 360 months in prison today for his involvement in a major drug trafficking operation.Share
Cannon was convicted of conspiracy to distribute and possession with intent to distribute a significant amount of methamphetamine, aiding a Raleigh-based organization connected to a national leader of the Pagan Motorcycle Club. He entered a guilty plea on November 29, 2023.

The operation led to the conviction of 20 defendants, including a severe 75-year sentence for the drug trafficking organization’s leader. U.S. Attorney Michael Easley emphasized the strategic dismantling of this network, which significantly impacted drug distribution across Raleigh and the East Coast.

ATF Special Agent in Charge Bennie Mims highlighted the agency’s role in disrupting criminal activities, focusing on the most dangerous drug and firearm traffickers. The case against Cannon detailed his supply of methamphetamine, cocaine, MDMA, other drugs, and firearms to Christopher Baker, a key figure previously convicted for similar offenses.

A pivotal moment in the investigation occurred in July 2021 when a federal wiretap revealed Cannon’s plans to sell firearms to Baker, leading to a raid on Cannon’s residence where authorities seized numerous weapons and drugs. Cannon was arrested later in 2021 in Georgia, found with approximately 800 grams of crystal methamphetamine.