Rebels bikie feared VLAD laws and got legal advice before Gold Coast holiday.
The fact is they couldn't have done much if he'd been riding around in his coulors...its not illegal unless theres more than two of you..but you cant expect them to know the law...
Paul Weston
Gold Coast Bulletin
October 28, 2015 12:00AM
Hayley Van Hostauyen and Clayton Foelmli. Picture: Facebook
THE Melbourne-based Rebels bikie who had a Taser aimed at him by Gold
Coast police during a roadside traffic stop claims he was previously too
scared to visit Queensland for fear of the state’s tough bikie laws.
Clayton Foelmli, 23, was photographed last year in full Rebels gear on a
Motorcycle NZ social media page.
The Gold Coast Bulletin has learned he has struggled to find work on
construction sites in Melbourne and had his Harley bike impounded by
police.
His partner, Hayley Van Hostauyen, is a 21-year-old preschool teacher.
Foelmli yesterday indicated he obtained legal advice before travelling
to Queensland, where the VLAD laws are under review.
Is he an innocent man holidaying on the Gold Coast or were police within
their rights to draw Tasers?
The Victorian couple caused a social media storm after posting a
confrontation they filmed on their mobile telephone during an intercept
by two female Rapid Action and Patrol squad members in Bermuda St,
Broadbeach Waters about 4.45pm on Monday.
A still image of the controversial video.
A still image of the controversial video.
The officer is shown raising and pointing her Taser at Foelmli after he
had returned to the couple’s hire car.
Police were not aware of Foelmli’s background but the tattoo, which
signals membership of a bikie gang, triggered the intercept. The
Bulletin understands Foelmli was wearing a Rebels belt and T-shirt.
When he returned to the car and reached for the glove box, the officer
moved quickly, and pointed the Taser at him, fearing he might have a
weapon. It was later discovered Foelmli was not armed but had begun
searching for identification papers.
A police spokesman yesterday said the officer had drawn her Taser but
did not fire it.
WHAT OUR TOURISM HEADS SAY
Gold Coast Tourism chairman Paul Donovan. Picture: Scott Fletcher
Gold Coast Tourism chairman Paul Donovan. Picture: Scott Fletcher
TOURISM leaders have condemned a viral video showing a confrontation
with police, saying it is unfair on both the police and the city.
The video, showing a confrontation between officers from the Rapid
Action Patrol and a member of the Rebels Outlaw Motorcycle Gang, has
already been viewed more than two million times.
Surfers Paradise Alliance boss Mike Winlaw said the Gold Coast needed to
unite against attempts to damage its reputation.
“There has been a strong investment in building the reputation of the
Gold Coast as a family friendly and fun place in recent years,” he said.
“These sorts of one-off incidents do not represent what is going on here
on the Coast and we must put into place strategies to counter the
negative media which flows from this
“This is not the Gold Coast and we must be vigilant and stand united to
counter it.”
City leaders say the video could not have come at a worse time as work
is done to boost the Gold Coast’s reputation ahead of the 2018
Commonwealth Games.
Gold Coast Tourism chief executive Martin Winter said the controversy
could hit the city’s reputation hard after several years of work to
revive it.
“It is terribly disappointing for the tourism industry that this video
which purports to depict our police in a negative light, has gone
viral,” he said.
“Clearly the officers were acting not only appropriately but with
restraint, as well as according to their guidelines.
“A huge amount of work has been undertaken by all stakeholders over the
past few years not only to clean up gang violence on the Gold Coast but
also to tell the world that this is as safe a place as any to visit.
“Depictions such as this can do enormous damage to this city’s
reputation and this is very regrettable.”
Gold Coast Tourism chairman Paul Donovan condemned the aggressive
behaviour directed towards the police and said the video was not the
look the city wanted to promote.
“We do not condone any kind of bad behaviour or what this video shows
because the Gold Coast is a tourist resort city and we are a
family-oriented place,” he said.
Videos showing this kind of behaviour is not what we want to see
associated with the Gold Coast because here we view this kind of
behaviour as not on.
“The Gold Coast took a stand against violence a few years ago which let
us focus on being a good place and it has been very successful, so a
return to that should not be stood for at all.”
The city council has ramped up its funding for tourism ventures in
recent years to boost the Coast’s reputation, both at home and abroad.
Gold Coast Tourism received $13.9 million in this year’s council budget
and has also committed cash to attracting events such as the XCATS and
Marvel Studios which will film Thor: Ragnarok here next year.