Bob Pammett says he's been set up by police

Friday, August 10, 2012....

Bob Pammett professed his innocence as he walked out of the Simcoe St. courthouse Thursday afternoon, moments after a Justice of the Peace released him from jail. Pammett, 62, faces charges of robbery and breach of probation. Police allege he was one of two men who took a “Support Your Local Loners” shirt from a man July 14. Police allege Pammett was driving the car that pulled up beside the35-year-old man as he walked through the Home Depot parking lot that day. “I’ve been set up again by corrupt cops,” he said, speaking to the media, adding that he was “100% innocent” of the crime. He has even offered to take a polygraph test to prove his innocence. “Stay tuned for the results,” he said. Pammett has been in jail for about a week. The Crown fought an uphill battle to keep him behind bars, pointing to Pammett’s extensive history and involvement with motorcycle clubs. Crown attorney Shonagh Pickens called several witnesses to the stand during Pammett’s bail hearing, including Pammett’s probation officer, Kelly Fox, and Peel police Det. Paul Noonan. Noonan works with the OPP’s biker enforcement unit. It’s his job to keep tabs on two motorcycle clubs, the Outlaws and the Loners. He told court the unit had received information that Pammett and the Loners had parted ways. He testified that the Loners tossed Pammett out of the club after hearing that Pammett wanted to switch clubs. Pammett maintains that he left the Loners of his own accord. Noonan testified that robbing someone of a shirt that bore the logo of a rival biker club had significant meaning in the biker world. “They’re essentially declaring war on the other group,” Noonan testified. “He’s calling out the Loners.” Noonan told court he was part of a team of police officers who raided the clubhouse at Park and Perry streets July 22, following an assault on a member of the Loners motorcycle club. Police found paraphernalia bearing the Loners logo in the house, Noonan testified, hanging upside down. Other biker paraphernalia included Bandidos and Vagos items, Noonan told court. Under cross examination Noonan admitted that Pammett isn’t a part of any biker club right now. “I would refer to it as ‘Bob Pammett et al right’ now,” Noonan said. The Crown argued that Pammett’s previous affiliations with the motorcycle club culture cause serious concerns. If the shirt Pammett is accused of taking was a regular T-shirt, the offence would be minor, Pickens said. But the meaning and nature behind the attack make it much more serious, she argued. Pickens also argued that releasing Pammett from custody could shake the public’s faith in the justice system. Pammett’s lawyer, Dave McFadden, pointed out that no one, including his client, has been charged in the July 22 assault. He argued that his client has never been charged with skipping court, drug issues were never brought up during the hearing and Pammett has faithfully shown up to meet with his probation officer every two weeks. Sure, he said, people may not like Pammett, and he may be well known to police. But that’s not a reason to keep someone in jail, McFadden said, and everyone has the right to bail. Young agreed with McFadden. As he read his decision to the courtroom, Young said he had to base his decision on the facts of the case, and not someone’s personality. He said that his decision doesn’t mean that the court approves, or even likes Pammett’s lifestyle. “Under ‘character,’ I’ve written, ‘not good,’” Young said, glancing at Pammett in the prisoner’s dock. Pammett was released on a $30,000 bond with no deposit. He’ll have to live with his surety, Nancy Foote, a teacher with the Peterborough Victoria Northumberland and Clarington Catholic School Board. Court heard Foote is the owner of the house located at Park and Perry streets, believed to be a clubhouse. Foote testified that she purchased the house and rents it out. Outside the courthouse Pammett wouldn’t elaborate on what he plans to do next, except to say he was going to “relax” after spending the last week in jail. http://www.thepeterboroughexaminer.com/2012/08/09/bob-pammett-says-hes-been-set-up-by-police