Police raid motorcycle clubs
Liquor, cash and other items seized at Charlottetown clubs
Police seized what they said was a large amount of liquor during raids on two Charlottetown motorcycle clubs on Saturday.
Members of the Organized Crime Task Force, which included Charlottetown, Summerside and Kensington police officers, as well as the RCMP federal investigation unit, executed search warrants at the Harley Club at 352 University Ave. and a Hells Angels hangaround club at 205 Fitzroy St. throughout the late morning and early afternoon on Saturday.
RCMP Cpl. Andy Cook, who is also provincial outlaw motorcycle gang (OMG) co-ordinator, said the warrants were served under the Liquor Control Act. Police used a U-Haul van to remove large quantities of beer, hard liquor, liquor tickets, cash, refrigerators and other related materials.
“Unless you have a licensed establishment you’re not allowed to sell liquor, or gift liquor,” said Cook, adding that a small “user amount” of marijuana was also seized from the Fitzroy Street club. Although no one was arrested, police said they will be issuing summonses at a later date.
The seizure occurred while a number of motorcyclists were in Charlottetown for the annual cycle swap meet at Eastlink Centre.
Cook said information received by police indicated members of clubs and outlaw gangs would be gathering at both locations afterwards.
“It’s a good day to do this because there are a lot of Hells Angels in town here and we want to send a message,” he said. The issue has been prevalent in P.E.I. since the hangaround club was established last November.
The provincial government has said it wants to create laws banning gang colours in bars, making the construction of fortified building illegal and regulating body armour.
Meanwhile, critics say banning the colours could be unconstitutional with similar legislation in Alberta currently being challenged in courts.
One of those critics is the Atlantic Confederation of Clubs (ACC), a motorcycle advocacy group with membership that includes independent riders and various clubs up to patched members of the Hells Angels. Cook said police are not “focusing on motorcyclists” but rather on the “criminality within the clubs.”
He also implied that the situation would be different if the ACC did not allow Hells Angels in the group.
“(The ACC) talk about biker respect, biker rights and motorcycle safety, but when the Hells Angels are in your group, it automatically taints you,” said Cook. “There are rules for a reason and I heard someone from the Hells Angels say ‘don’t hate the player, hate the game.’
“I will enforce the law and I’ve said from the outset, we’re going to use every available legal avenue we have to deal with this issue.”
Cook said police will continue to greet members of clubs visiting from out of province. “We want to be the exact opposite of a welcoming committee. Our message is clear, outlaw motorcycle gangs and illegal activities associated to them are not welcome on our Island,” said Cook. “Likewise, members of the clubs who live in P.E.I. should know that we will continue our mandate to investigate and disrupt crime associated to any motorcycle club.“