Finks OMCG raids: Nine arrested in Hunter Region following Raptor raids
The Raptor Squad has charged eight members and one associate of the Finks bikie gang after coordinated raids across the Hunter Region, with three accused granted conditional bail by a magistrate.
Two Finks bikies dramatically arrested following investigations into a series of Hunter hotel brawls have been granted bail by the courts – as long as they abide by a booze and pub ban.
Shawn Edward Herbert, 38, and Tyson Bellette, 28, faced Bail Division Court on Thursday following their arrests by Raptor Squad North investigators during a series of raids across the Hunter on Wednesday.
They were two of nine Finks members who were arrested during the raids, and faced court along with fellow Finks bikie Damon Di Stefano and Di Stefano’s partner Tearna Dargin.
Five other Finks bikies were granted conditional police bail following their arrests and will face court at a later date.
Seven search warrants were executed by police across Cessnock, Maitland and the Lake Macquarie areas following the Raptor Squad investigation into “drug, firearm, affray and sexual touching related offences in the Hunter Region”, police said.
It following a 25-year-old woman reported that she had been touched by an unknown man on three separate occasions at the Prince of Merewether Hotel on November 1 as well as a fight at the same pub, where one man allegedly armed themselves with a knife.
The following weekend, Port Stephens Hunter Police District officers commenced investigations into an alleged brawl at the Shoal Bay Country Club, where it is alleged a group of men attacked other patrons standing outside the venue.
Police said the men allegedly involved in the sexual touching and affrays were identified to be members of the Finks OMCG.
Bellette and Herbert were arrested during a raid on a house in Maitland, where police allegedly found a gel blaster.
Bellette faces charges including possessing an unauthorised pistol, possessing or using a prohibited weapon without permit, and supplying a prohibited drug (greater than indictable and less than commercial),.
Herbert was charged with affray relating to the Shoal Bay incident, and two counts of firearm etc found at premises-subject to prohibition order.
Both men successfully applied for bail on Thursday, with Bellette’s lawyer stating his client’s record was fairly limited, with his last court appearance for an unrelated matter was in 2020.
The court heard that Herbert has a significant array of domestic violence, driving and general violence offences and CCTV footage allegedly showed Herbert getting into a fight at Shoal Bay, before security attempted to break up the fight.
It was also heard that the search warrant later identified him due to similar clothing — where an unknown liquid believed to be a steroid was also seized.
Magistrate Elizabeth Bushby granted both men conditional bail, including the booze and licensed premises ban and a nightly curfew.
They are both banned from associated with certain people.
Di Stefano did not apply for bail and was formerly remanded in custody.
Dargin, 26, appeared wearing a Darth Vader with a Santa hat pajama top.
Police said a search of her Windale residence allegedly uncovered a-12 gauge semiautomatic gun that was hidden in a couch in the living room.
Dargin’s lawyer Alison Nowland applied for bail citing several reasons, including her lack of criminal history
Ms Nowland stated that the firearm possession was against her will.
It was heard in court that Dargin had made attempts to ask her partner and the co-accused Di Stefano “when it had been removed from premises.”
Ms Busby granted Dargin conditional bail.
Meanwhile, a 36-year-old Finks member was arrested during a raid at Kurri Kurri, and charged with two counts of affray relating to both the Merewether and Shoal Bay incidents, supplying prohibited drug (less than a small quantity) and faiingl to comply digital evidence access order direction.
He was granted conditional bail to appear in Kurri Kurri Local Court on November 25.
At North Rothbury, police arrested a 33-year-old man.
He was taken to Cessnock police station, where he was charged with two counts of affray relating to the both the Merewether and Shoal Bay incidents, possessing prohibited drug, and failing to comply digital evidence access order direction.
He was granted conditional bail to appear in Singleton Local Court on November 27.
At an address in Rutherford, police arrested a 40-year-old Finks member and late charged him with sexually touch another person without consent.
He was granted conditional bail to appear in Maitland Local Court on December 10.
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Originally published as Finks OMCG raids: Nine arrested in Hunter Region following Raptor raids
