Three Rebels bikies have been arrested in Bendigo in raids carried out by Echo taskforce

Police have released footage of their raid on a Rebels bikie clubhouse in Bendigo after a man was gang bashed for telling an alleged patched member to slow down.

Three members of the Rebels bikie gang — including a president and gang enforcer — have been arrested in raids in Bendigo on Thursday morning.

Detectives from the Echo taskforce and a range of other squads searched a clubhouse and homes as part of an investigation into the brutal bashing of a man, allegedly by men wearing Rebels colours on May 15.

The victim had been working on his car outside his North Bendigo house when a motorcycle came past at high speed.

Police say the man waved for the bike to slow down.

Soon, two men police believe to be a 49-year-old Bendigo man and a 25-year-old Epsom man wearing Rebels colours arrived at the home in a white Holden Commodore ute.

They bashed the victim before a third man, who police believe was a 28-year-old from Epsom, turned up in a twin-cab and joined in.

Echo taskforce arrests an alleged Rebels member in Bendigo. Source: Victoria Police

Police raided the Rebels clubhouse in Bendigo on Thursday morning. Picture: Victoria Police

Police said the victim’s partner heard the commotion and came outside, causing the assailants to leave.

The man was taken to hospital with serious injuries.

“The investigation remains ongoing,” police said.

A clubhouse at Long Gully, two homes in Epsom and another in North Bendigo were searched.

Those arrested were:

■ A 49-year-old North Bendigo man who is believed to be the president of the Rebels OMCG

■ An Epsom man, 28, who is believed to be a sergeant at arms of the Rebels OMCG,

■ Another Epsom man, 25, who is believed to be a patched member of the Rebels OMCG.

Detective acting Insp. Ash Ryan of the Echo taskforce described the attack as utterly unacceptable.

“This is an unprovoked and callous assault on a completely innocent member of the public simply going about his own business,” he said.

“It will not be tolerated. We will not allow our regional communities to be intimidated by OMCGs.”

The Rebel raids in Bendigo were lead by Echo Taskforce.

Insp. Ryan said anyone who thought organised crime entities did not have any level of impunity because they operated in rural areas.

“It is not easier to hide in the country. If you are involved in organised criminal activity, you will be detected and you will be held accountable, irrespective of your location,” he said.

“It’s important for members of the community to understand that when incidents like this one do take place, we will thoroughly investigate, and those involved will be held to account.”

The three men arrested have been charged with intentionally and recklessly causing injury, affray, assault in company and assault with a weapon.

They were bailed by police to appear at Bendigo Magistrates’ Court on September 28.

Police are keen to speak to anyone who witnessed the incident or has CCTV or dashcam footage to come forward.

Anyone with information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or submit a confidential report online at www.crimestoppersvic.com.au