OFF THE WIRE
By Tim Petruk - Kamloops This Week
A Kamloops motorcycle club demonstrated a clear allegiance to the Hells Angels with an event in the city over the weekend, police say.
RCMP Staff Sgt. Grant Learned said approximately 50 bikers gathered at the Ukrainian Orthodox Centre in North Kamloops for a dinner and dance fundraiser.
Police believe about half of them were members of the Kamloops North Shore Motorcycle Club, while the other half were members of the Hells Angels or various Kelowna-based puppet clubs associated with the notorious biker gang.
Learned said police maintained a “high-visibility presence” outside the event.
“It establishes a clear association or a de facto showing of support,” he said. “There’s a very clear association."
Learned said Hells Angels members were from the group’s White Rock chapter, while the Kelowna bikers represented puppet clubs Kingpin Crew, Throttle Lockers and Deadman’s Hand.
“Despite their claims to the contrary, their business is organized crime,” he said, noting it’s still unclear whether the Kamloops group will evolve into a puppet club.
“We’ve always known that the potential was going to be there,” Learned said. “To have a very public display sends a very clear message of support between the two.”
