Bail hearing for Bob Pammett continues Thursday

Thursday, August 9, 2012.... Bob Pammett’s lengthy history with motorcycle gangs came under heavy scrutiny Wednesday as a bail hearing for the 62-year-old resident began. Pammett faces charges of robbery and breach of a court order. He was charged after a man complained to city police that his “Support Your Local Loners” shirt was taken from him July 14. Pierre Maurice Aragon, 30, has also been charged in the case. Crown attorney Shonagh Pickens outlined the ongoing tension between the Loners motorcycle club and a group of former members. In July the Loners announced via their website that Pammett was kicked out of the club and was considered a member in bad standing. Pammett has maintained he was never tossed out of the club and left on his own accord. The former members include Pammett and Aragon, court heard. Pickens said their clubhouse is at Park and Perry streets. The 35-year-old complainant told police he was walking in the parking lot near Home Depot when a dark-coloured car drove up beside him and suddenly stopped. Three men got out, court heard. Pickens said one man, later identified as Aragon, walked up to the complainant and told him he liked his shirt. Then he threatened to beat the complainant up if he didn’t hand the shirt over, Pickens said. A struggle ensued, Pickens said, and the complainant’s sunglasses were destroyed and his shirt was taken off. The complainant could hear Pammett telling Aragon to grab his shirt, she said. The complainant told police he heard the men making fun of his tattoos, Pickens said. They also told him he was hanging out with the wrong people. Pickens said the complainant isn’t a member of the Loners and had bought the shirt on his own. When Pammett was arrested he was wearing a Vagos belt buckle, Pickens said. The Vagos are a motorcycle gang based in the southern United States. At the Water St. police station Aragon declined to talk to police, Pickens said. Pammett, she said, accused police of wrongful arrest and threw a tantrum on video. Pickens called probation officer Kelly Fox to the stand during the hearing. Fox is tasked with supervising Pammett while he’s on probation. Given his high profile in the media, and his high risk to reoffend, Pammett requires “intensive supervision,” Fox testified. She meets with Pammett every two weeks, she told court. During their meetings Pammett would often talk about motorcycle clubs, Fox testified, sometimes the Outlaws, sometimes the Loners. Fox described several occasions where Pammett arrived for his appointments wearing clothing decked out in motorcycle club slogans. The first time he was asked to remove his “Outlaws MC” hat Pammett complied, she testified. But on another occasion he argued against taking it off, she told court, telling staff that he was free to wear what he wanted. On another occasion he tried to argue that the “MC” on his “Loners MC” hat didn’t stand for “motorcycle club” but stood for “moving company.” Under cross examination Fox admitted that Pammett was a big talker. Pammett’s lawyer, Dave McFadden, pointed out that his client’s knowledge of biker clubs could have come from local media reports. The hearing continues Thursday. http://www.thepeterboroughexaminer.com/2012/08/09/bail-hearing-for-bob-pammett-continues-thursday