Police seize guns, drugs in bikie raid
A FULL-TIME job and an ailing mother were among factors which convinced a Toowoomba magistrate to free an alleged bikie less than 24 hours after he was arrested.
Guns, drugs and an extensive range of Bandidos motorcycle club clothing and paraphernalia were allegedly recovered from the Laidley home of Darryl Raymond Johns during a raid about 4.30pm Sunday.
A sawn-off shotgun, a pistol, a rifle and ammunition were the subject of Johns' weapons charges while amphetamine, marijuana, pipes and digital scales were the subject of his drug charges.
Police also charged a 28-year-old woman with drug-related matters as a part of the raid.
Johns, 47, appeared in custody before Magistrate Damian Carroll yesterday, where his defence solicitor Nathan Bouchier successfully applied for bail.
Mr Bouchier accepted his client was alleged to be a participant in a criminal motorcycle gang, which under new bikie laws meant he would have to show the court his client's imprisonment was not justified.
He said there was no suggestion his client would flee and his client resided with his partner.
The court heard Johns and his partner cared for Johns' 85-year-old mother, who was "quite sick" and lived at Laidley.
Mr Bouchier said his client had full-time work as a truck driver and had no recent entries on his criminal history.
Mr Carroll noted Johns had been spoken to by police at the former Toowoomba clubhouse of the Bandidos motorcycle club in July, September and October of last year.
Paraphernalia allegedly located at Johns' home included 12 Bandidos vests, some with full colours and others marked for nominees.
The cache also included 112 Bandidos t-shirts, accounting documents, scarves, a book defining club roles and 50 spare patches.
Mr Carroll also noted Johns was alleged to have been in regular contact with other men deemed to be Toowoomba Bandidos participants.
He granted Johns bail on the condition he not be in contact with any past or present members of any criminal motorcycle gangs.
Shortly after the court decision was made, police held a press conference where the items allegedly seized were displayed.
Southern region crime coordinator Detective Acting Superintendent David Austin highlighted the amount of Bandidos paraphernalia which had been found by officers from the Darling Downs District Tactical Crime Squad.
"You will also notice that firearms have been seized and drugs, which lends itself to, once again, the assumption that CMGs (criminal motorcycle gangs) are associated with criminal activities," Det. Act. Supt. Austin said.
"They include the unlawful use of firearms and drugs."
He said it was important to have the unregistered guns removed from society, particularly the sawn-off shotgun.
"They can do an awful lot of damage."
Johns is due in Toowoomba Magistrates Court on September 22.