WA vice-president of Bandidos among 18 members charged in significant OMCG arrest following police chase

The WA vice-president of the Bandidos motorcycle gang is among nearly 20 patched members who were arrested following a high-speed chase through peak-hour traffic in Perth’s south. In what police say is the “most significant” outlaw motorcycle gang arrest in recent memory, gang crime squad officers charged 18 members with 38 offences after their convoy was allegedly caught fleeing police at nearly 150km/h on the Kwinana Freeway on Friday afternoon. A large contingent of WA Police officers — including police air wing — descended on Baldivis after a member of the public reported a Bandidos gathering outside a service station on Safety Bay Road about 5.25pm. The gathering was not known to police. Ground crews activated their lights and sirens, prompting the riders to allegedly speed off recklessly and form a convoy on the Kwinana Freeway northbound. During the chase, two bikies allegedly obstructed several police vehicles by “slowing down and swerving in an out of traffic” in a bid to help the main convoy get away. The incident prompted police to shut down parts of Kwinana Freeway during peak-hour traffic, causing the entire convoy to come to a halt. Dramatic arrest vision shows the gang members face down on the freeway’s verge, before being cuffed and taken into custody. Detective Senior Sergeant Todd White, operations manager of the gang crime squad, said there was already friction within the Australian chapter of the Bandidos, and said the arrests would likely weaken the club’s influence in WA. “This arrest of 18 outlaw motorcycle gang members and the seizure of their motorcycles is the most significant arrest in recent memory in Western Australia,” he said on Saturday. “Among those arrested was the national vice-president of the western region and other office bearers based in Western Australia. “Intelligence indicates there is already internal conflict and tensions within the Bandidos outlaw motorcycle gang in Australia. “These arrests will further the destabilisation of this identified organisation’s activities within this State.” Police air wing footage shows the convoy speeding down the deserted freeway alongside a white Holden Caprice sedan. Police confirmed the three male occupants of the Caprice were also members or associates of the Bandidos, and were issued a dispersal notice. Another motorcyclist was also handed a traffic infringement. They are not alleged to have been involved in any reckless driving. Det-Sen. Sgt White confirmed all 18 gang members were on bail with strict conditions, including unlawful or anti-consorting provisions. “(The) conditions include not to consort with other members of the Bandidos outlaw motorcycle gang, reporting conditions and also presenting their mobile phone devices and other electronic devices to police for inspection upon request,” he said. “We will continue to use the full suite of powers to disrupt and restrict the illicit activities of outlaw motorcycle gang members.” Det-Sen. Sgt White assured there was no ongoing risk to the community. “By their nature, outlaw motorcycle gang members are violent, and what we are focused on at the gang crime squad is protecting the community from these violent acts and ensuring community confidence,” he said. “The community can be reassured that this matter has now been resolved and there’s no ongoing risk to the community.” All 18 gang members have been charged with reckless driving to escape a police pursuit and driving a vehicle while failing to comply with a direction to stop in circumstances of aggravation and will front court between January 28 and February 9. Two of the men, aged 44 and 41, were also charged with obstructing police officers. Premier Roger Cook commended officers for their rapid response. “This sort of dangerous and appalling behaviour will not be tolerated, and I thank police for acting swiftly to make this significant arrest and for keeping the community safe,” he said.