Bikie gang in city shootout
NEWS.com.au, Australia - A BIKIE gang shootout with semi-automatic weapons on Adelaide's most popular restaurant strip forced dozens of bystanders to dive for cover early yesterday.
At least 15 shots were fired in the gun battle among about a dozen men in three cars.
Security vision shows some of the men chasing each other on foot while firing and bystanders diving clear of a speeding car on a footpath.
Police were investigating if the suspects were linked to the Hells Angels outlaw motorcycle gang and the Middle East Boys street gang. The shooting has sparked a political debate over anti-bikie laws that the Government says are being delayed by "Mickey Mouse" amendments.
Four other shootings in the city in the past year have involved 10 victims but no one was injured in yesterday's shooting, on the busy Gouger St restaurant strip at 1.20am. Detective Superintendent Des Bray said it was lucky no one was caught in the crossfire. He could not rule out revenge as a motive. "It was only good luck no innocent members of the public or bystanders were killed or seriously injured," the Crime Gang Task Force chief said.
"You've got three vehicles in a popular nightspot with each of those vehicles carrying people armed with semi-automatic weapons. One shot is frightening, let alone 15."
The proposed anti-gang Bill, now in the Upper House, would give police unprecedented powers to crack down on bikie gangs and their associates. Powers include anti-association orders for gang members, banning bikies from specific locations and making it easier to confiscate bikies' assets.
Attorney-General Michael Atkinson said the Bill, which the Government wants in place by July 1, was being held up by "Mickey Mouse" amendments by Greens MP Mark Parnell. "My message to Mark Parnell is to get on and pass this Bill," he said. "Don't obstruct it with more than 100 Mickey Mouse amendments. To the Liberal Opposition, don't indulge this infantile behaviour by the Greens which is holding up the law necessary to crack down on outlaw motorcycle gangs."
Mr Parnell agreed with the Government about being serious on crime but said the proposed laws went too far. "Of course we need powers and resources with the police to deal with organised crime and bikie crime but that doesn't mean we have to throw out centuries-old human rights in the process," he said. "The Bill makes it illegal for families to get together if one of those members is a bikie, a former bikie or some with a criminal record."
Opposition police spokesman David Ridgway said the Bill had the support of the Liberal Party. "The ball is in the Government's court to bring it on," he said. "It's a bit cute to say it's been frustrated by amendments. That's what a democratic process is all about."
Yesterday's drama began when shots were fired in Gouger, Field and Wright streets about 1.20am. The hail of bullets sprayed a shop window, an alfresco dining area and hit at least one other car. Supt Bray said the "precise motive is not clear".
"Some of those we suspect of being involved are known to us through their involvement in the drug trade and for their relationship with outlaw motorcycle groups," he said. "There are a number of witnesses who are providing varying accounts of what occurred and those accounts differ somewhat . . . how it unfolded isn't exactly clear."
Police interviewed three people after stopping a white Mercedes four-wheel-drive, which had a smashed side window, on Hampstead Rd, Clearview. The occupants were released without charge. Police also seized a black Chrysler sedan, parked in Wright St, which was hit by gunfire, and a silver Mazda 4WD, abandoned in Franklin St.
They were looking for a red or maroon Toyota Landcruiser, suspected of carrying gunmen.
Security vision shows one gunman chasing the Landcruiser, running between two cars parked outside Gaucho's restaurant. He put his hands on the bonnets. Police have appealed for the cars' owners to come forward in the hope fingerprints could be lifted from their vehicles. Auckland tourists Ivan Yukich and Jasmine Piplovic were at Gaucho's only hours before a bullet shattered the outdoor glass partition where they had been eating.
"It just shows it could be the wrong place, wrong time and it could be your lot," Mr Yukich said. "It is the last thing I would have expected to see in Adelaide". The popular Gouger St strip is part of a police "target area" but some businesses say police need a stronger presence. "More police are needed. They are here sometimes just never when they are needed," one eatery owner saidAdd to Technorati Favorites
Florida Killiing Fields-continue to grow
FL: Palm Beach Gardens: Motorcyclist hits median of Alternate A1A, diesSun-Sentinel.com, FL - A 45-year-old man was killed late Sunday when his motorcycle struck the median of Alternate A1A, sending him flying onto the roadway, police said Monday.
Todd Brooks, a resident of Palm Beach Gardens, was riding his 1989 Suzuki motorcycle westbound at Lake Victoria Gardens Avenue at 11:37 p.m., Palm Beach Gardens police investigators said. Investigators said he was in the right-hand turning lane and continued straight across the Alternate A1A junction. The bike struck the center median and Brooks was thrown into the road. He was not wearing a helmet, police said. Brooks was taken to St. Mary's Medical Center in West Palm Beach, where he later died of his injuries, police said.
FL: Clay County Deputy Killed In Motorcycle Wreck
News4Jax.com, FL - JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- Deputy Dennis Urban, a 17-year veteran of the Clay County Sheriff's Office, was off duty on Saturday when he died after being involved in a motorcycle wreck. According to the Florida Highway Patrol, the 57-year-old Urban was killed when a car pulled into the path of his motorcycle on U.S. Highway 441.
FL: Thunder Beach Motorcycle Death
WJHG-TV, FL - A motorcyclist has died from injuries received in a Friday traffic accident at Panama City Beach.
The fatality, identified 46 year old Ronnie Green, of Weaver, Alabama was riding on North Pier Park Drive just north of Back Beach Road when he crashed into another motorcycle which had slowed to make a turn.. Green was thrown from his motorcycle and was taken to a local hospital. He was then flown to a Dothan hospital where he died yesterday.
Meanwhile, a pedestrian who was struck by a motorcycle and a car in the 8600 block of Thomas Drive early Sunday morning is still listed in very critical condition.
FL: Fort Pierce man, woman killed in motorcycle crash on US 1
Fort Pierce Tribune (subscription), FL - BREVARD COUNTY — A man and a woman from Fort Pierce were killed Friday when they lost control of their motorcycle and crashed while traveling through Brevard County. Joseph Selph, 42, and Marina Selph, 35, were riding south on U.S. 1 in the Malabar area when they drifted in the median and crashed into a guardrail, according to the Florida Highway Patrol. The crash happened at the curve near Rocky Point Road at 8:55 p.m., FHP said. No cause for the accident had been determined.
FL: West Palm Beach: Motorcyclist killed in crash west of Summit Boulevard
Sun-Sentinel.com, FL - A 20-year-old motorcyclist was killed late Saturday night when another car pulled in front of him on Summit Boulevard. Daniel Limauro, of Lake Clarke Shores, was driving a Suzuki motorcycle west on Summit Boulevard about 10 p.m. when Roberto Flores made a left in front of him onto Easy Street, according to the Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office. Flores hit Limauro with his Chevy Camaro, and Limauro was thrown from his bike. He was not wearing a helmet, the Sheriff's Office report said. Flores showed signs of being impaired, the report said. He was arrested and charged with DUI manslaughter and not having a valid driver's license, according to the report.
What was the cause of death? Lack of helmet? Or Mr. Flores driving while intoxicated?
FL:
Bradenton motorcyclist killed in crash on 14th Street West
Michael A. Scarcella Published Saturday, April 26, 2008 at 1:27 p.m.
BRADENTON A 50-year-old Bradenton man was killed in a crash last night after a drunken driver turned into the path of the man s motorcycle in the 4900 block of 14th Street West, the Florida Highway Patrol said.
The victim, William H. Swails, known as Hardtail Willie among friends, was driving south on 14th Street West about 9 p.m. when the driver of van made a left turn in front of Swails motorcycle, according to FHP reports.
Authorities said the van struck the front of the motorcycle. The driver, Bradenton resident Paul Edmund Torrey, 60, was arrested on charges that included DUI manslaughter. He was hospitalized with minor injuries at Manatee Memorial Hospital in Bradenton. His passenger, C. Gayle Long, 66, was not injured in the crash.
Swails passenger, Kimberly R. Miller, 44, of Bradenton was critically injured in the crash. She was flown to Bayfront Medical Center in St. Petersburg. Swails and Miller were not wearing helmets.
Family and friends say Swails, who was a concrete mason, was talking about returning to Iowa to find a job. Today the relatives wept looking through photos of Swail posing with his motorcycle. Swails Harley jacket was hanging on a wall.
Torrey was arrested in February on a misdemeanor charge of driving on a suspended license. The charge is pending. In 2006, Torrey was prosecuted for leaving the scene of a crash. He was sentenced to six months of probation.
What was the cause of death? No helmet? Or Mr. Torrey driving under the influence?
FL:
Seminole man killed in high speed motorcycle crash
Last Update: 5/01 5:19 am
PINELLAS PARK,FLA--On Wednesday, April 30, 2008 at approximately 9:54 p.m., a 27 year old male was operating a 2001 Honda motorcycle west bound in Bryan Dairy Road in the 6100 block. The motorcyclist lost control while traveling at a high rate of speed and struck the guard rail which caused him to be ejected into a concrete light pole.
The motorcyclist has been identified as John Robert Wainscott, of Seminole, FL. Investigators estimate his speed at the time of the crash to be near 90 to 100 miles per hour.
Mr. Wainscott landed on the side of the road, more than 150 feet from the point of impact, and the motorcycle continued for nearly 400 feet before coming to rest in the east bound lanes of Bryan Dairy Road.
Mr. Wainscott suffered multiple injuries to his torso, extremities, and head and was pronounced deceased on the scene by paramedics. He was wearing a helmet, which was heavily damaged.
All west bound lanes, and one east bound lane, on Bryan Dairy Road from US 19 to 66 Street were closed for just over three hours while traffic homicide investigators conduct their investigation.
What was the cause of death? Loss of control of motorcycle? Multiple injuries? Helmet?
Thanks to Biker bitsAdd to Technorati Favorites
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)