Australasian Biker News
Ammo seized in bikie gang raid
Rebecca Tucker
November 17th, 2008
Police raid the Rebels headquarters in North Geelong yesterday.
A PLAIN silver Ford Focus sedan stops on the side of the road opposite Edols Place and out steps a tough-looking, silver-haired bloke dressed in black, cigarette hanging from his mouth.
A homicide squad detective approaches the the Rebels motorcycle gang
Geelong president, and escorts him inside the club's headquarters.
Waiting in there is another man linked to the gang he is about to be arrested on firearms charges.
Police have been coming and going for about an hour, since 10.45am, when about 30 homicide squad and special operations group officers stormed their way inside as part of their investigation into the murder of Bandidos motorcycle club member Ross Brand.
A 34-year-old man was inside at the time but police said they made a peaceful entry.
The scene outside, however, suggested they may not have expected it to be so.
Police blocked access to Edols Place, barricading Edols St with their vehicles, for about 30 minutes as the search was in full swing.
As they emerged, leaving in dribs and drabs inside 4WDs, a van and other unmarked cars, they re-opened the road.
A detective stood on the corner of Edols Place and took down details of cars driving past, some slowing for a look; word had seemed to have filtered through town.
Another hour gone and another car arrived; this time a silver Nissan Patrol filled with four men wearing jumpers blazoned with Rebels logos.
As soon as they pulled up in Edols St, detectives pounced, spoke with the men briefly, and began checking the 4WD for roadworthiness.
The bikies stood by, smoking and talking.
The club's president made a few brief appearances outdoors, declining a media invitation to be interviewed.
"He said 'no', but he didn't exactly use that word," police media spokeswoman Sergeant Creina O'Grady told the waiting journalists.
Not long after, as Detective Inspector Steve Clark addressed the media, his colleagues led out the 34-year-old man linked to the Rebels.
Photo gallery from Ross Brand's funeral. Click here.
Baseball cap atop his head and dressed in casual clothes,
he was put in an unmarked police car and taken back to the Geelong
Police Station to join the police's other catch of the day, a
25-year-old Norlane man arrested for breach of parole.
Police continue to stream out with paper bags filled with "items of interest" to be examined as part of the murder investigation.