Rebels outlaw motorcycle gang ramp up recruitment on Sunshine Coast: court

Court documents have revealed the Rebels outlaw motorcycle gang have ramped up recruitment through feeder clubs on the Sunshine Coast, following the arrest of three men tied to a brutal alleged bashing.

Police intelligence has revealed the Rebels outlaw motorcycle gang has begun to increase recruitment on the Sunshine Coast.

Court documents tendered in the failed bail applications of three men on Wednesday, who police allege are linked to the criminal group, reveal police suspicions as they work to prevent the region from becoming an attractive destination for bikies.

These revelations were outlined in the investigations into Matthew James McKenzie, of Maroochydore, 38, Nathan Peter John Dyson, 30, and Nicholas William Pozzebon, 27, both of Kiels Mountain, who police allege were all involved in a brutal car chase and bashing of a man at Palmview on September 18.

Bail objection documents before Maroochydore Magistrates Court this week claim a failed business venture was the catalyst for the allegedly brazen daylight car chase in holiday traffic.

Matthew James McKenzie is a roofer from Maroochydore charged with offences following an alleged car chase and bashing of a man in Palmview last month. Picture: Facebook

Nathan Peter John Dyson works in diesel fitting and lives in Kiels Mountain, and faced Maroochydore Magistrates Court on October 9. Picture: Facebook

Detectives allege Pozzebon and McKenzie in a Ram 1400 and Dyson in a Ford Ranger, chased a Mercedes C250 to Palmview before the Ram rammed the victim off the road into scrub.

It’s further alleged Pozzebon and Dyson bashed the victim as he tried to get out of his car while McKenzie acted as a “lookout”.

Police say the alleged victim suffered a fractured eye socket, nose, wrist and bruising to his torso.

Emergency services arrived to the scene however the trio was not arrested until September 26 and September 30 on charges of grievous bodily harm (serious organised crime), operating a vehicle dangerously and endangering the safety of a person in a vehicle with intent.

Dyson faces an additional charge of contravening an order about information necessary to access information stored electronically.

Police say Nicholas William Pozzebon, who faced a Maroochydore court on October 9, owns his own diesel fitting business and works with Dyson. Picture: Contributed

Court documents allege McKenzie was an “associate” of the Rebels while Pozzebon and Dyson were “patched” members.

They were all refused bail with their matters to return to court on December 6.

Sunshine Coast Detective Inspector Chris Toohey said on Thursday the investigation continues the success of the Sunshine Coast Gang Squad to stop and foil gangs having a presence in the region.

Inspector Toohey said Taskforce Albatross was sparked last year to keep unwanted OMCG and other organised crime affiliates out of the district.

The senior detective said they will continue to be vigilant against those crime groups so they do not gain any foothold in the community.

Court documents state police intelligence indicated the Rebels had increased recruitment through a feeder club on the Sunshine Coast, with a large number of members seen at the Rebels clubhouse in late September.

Police further claim in court documents members of this criminal group have committed other offences on the Sunshine Coast, including an assault where a young victim was “too fearful of reprisal” to speak to police.

Vision from a search warrant following an investigation into the crash at Palmview on September 18. Picture: QPS

Inspector Toohey could not comment on the feeder clubs but said organised crime groups target anyone who has any disillusionment with the community and actively try to gain new members, but could not pigeonhole that to a particular person or group.

“Our focus in the police is to make sure we disrupt and prevent as much crime as we can, not just investigate and response,” he said.

“Prevention and disruption is a huge part of our strategy for the gang squad, which means we’re not going to sit back and watch any type of anti social behaviour.

“We’ll show no tolerance for those groups conducting any business up here and we’ll actively pursue whatever form of justice we can in relation to their activities on the coast.”

Rebels clothes allegedly found during a search warrant. Picture: QPS

Rebels logos emblazoned on motorcycles during a search warrant. Picture: QPS

He said he could not comment on other investigations relating to the Rebels, but to say they would continue to investigate all incidents which were reported or not, to make sure they could keep the community safe.

Inspector Toohey said from time to time different outlaw motorcycle gang chapters would come into the Sunshine Coast due to an “attractive” lifestyle.

“We’ve had a number of arrests over all the OMCG groups including the Rebels, Comanchero, Mongols, have all been apart of our investigations,” he said.

“We have had success in making sure these chapters have not set up and will continue to work with other organisations and assistance from [Taskforce] Maxima in Brisbane to make sure we continue the success we’ve got.”

The message from Inspector Toohey to bikie groups was simple, “they’re not welcome here”.

“We have a strong sense of community within the Sunshine Coast and we want to maintain the lifestyle that we enjoy, and that does not include organised crime or OMCG groups,” he said.

Originally published as Rebels outlaw motorcycle gang ramp up recruitment on Sunshine Coast: court