OFF THE WIRE
Source: bclocalnews.com
The number of weapons charges against a group of Kelowna men police say are associated with the Hells Angels motorcycle club has risen.
The four, who were arrested after police seized a small arsenal of weapons from a vehicle on Thursday night near Salmon Arm, made their first court appearances in Salmon Arm on Monday morning and court records indicate the number of charges against the group has doubled since last week.
Carl Ryan Ennis, 39, Dennis John Miner, 35, Cory Joseph Montemurro, 40, and Joseph Bruce Skreptak, 43, each face four counts of possession of a prohibited/restricted firearm with ammunition, two counts of occupying a vehicle in which there is a firearm, one count of storage of a firearm contrary to regulation and possessing a weapon for a dangerous purpose.
Montemurro also faces a charge of carrying a concealed weapon and Skreptak is charged with possession of a controlled substance.
The group had been initially charged on Friday with two counts of possessing a prohibited/restricted firearm with ammunition, storage of a firearm contrary to regulation and occupying a vehicle in which there is a firearm.
The group were arrested after they were stopped by police for speeding on the Trans-Canada Highway.
Police say the detected an odour of marijuana and then searched the car, finding several firearms including a sawed off shot gun, three handguns and a large quantity of ammunition. Police also recovered a bulletproof vest, a baseball bat, an axe handle, knives, bear spray and a radio jamming device designed to block outgoing transmissions.
All four were sporting Hells Angels insignias and were in possession of black balaclavas.
RCMP say the men’s destination and intentions are unknown, as they are not cooperating with investigators.
