canada.com
Instead of their annual ride to honour fallen member, motorcycle club stages a small barbecue
Danielle Bell, The Daily Newsp
olice are perplexed why an annual ride that normally brings dozens of Hells Angels to Nanaimo did not materialize this year.
Instead, police were surprised to find a handful of bikers, instead of an anticipated 100, who only gathered for a barbecue at the uncharacteristically quiet event. RCMP believe something must have led the Angels to alter their plans but nothing was suggested.
"There's no reason we see to ascertain why they would change their plans," said Sgt. Shinder Kirk, with the Combined Forces Special Enforcement Unit based out of Vancouver.
Nanaimo Hells Angel member Fred Widdifield said he did not know anything about why the Zeke Run was not held.
"I don't know anything about it," said Widdifield, who has commented on rides in the past.
The last time the ride was cancelled, in 2008, RCMP hinted that the seizure of the Nanaimo clubhouse was behind the cancellation. Police said then the biggest difference noticed since the clubhouse seizure has been fewer large rides involving Hells Angels members.
But the ride was resurrected in 2009 and also took place last May, with gang task force officers taking the opportunity to photograph dozens of bikers from chapters across B.C. as they arrived to join the ride.
The clubhouse, seized in November 2007 because the Civil Forfeiture office alleged it was being used as an instrument for unlawful activity, remains before the courts.
The ride traditionally leaves Nanaimo around noon on a round-trip to Victoria, where bikers then party in Nanaimo.
Police were not expecting problems but monitor the ride each year.
DBell@nanaimodailynews.com
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The Nanaimo Hells Angels take part in the Zeke Run in 2010. They skipped the annual event for the first time this year. |
