thespec.com
After holding a scene near a high-profile biker clubhouse for close to nine hours Thursday morning, Hamilton police concluded their investigation without any charges.
Police responded to reports that a woman was “in distress” on Whitfield Avenue, near Gage Avenue North and Beach Road around 2:19 a.m., said spokesperson Catherine Martin.
That investigation is now closed and the scene was re-opened late morning.
Throughout the ordeal police refused to reveal many details about the incident, which sparked rumours of a violent crime in the neighbourhood.
Paramedics responded to the area to treat a woman who claimed to have been assaulted, said EMS platoon manager Jim Summers.
She was taken to Hamilton General Hospital with no serious injuries to be checked out, he said.
The neighbourhood – which includes a new Hells Angels clubhouse – was blocked off by police until roughly 11:30 a.m.
Neighbour Jen Moses said the woman was found in the bushes, at the second property in from Gage on Whitfield.
Neighbours reported hearing the woman crying.
Moses was walking her dog around 8 a.m. this morning when she saw a bunch of “young men” standing outside the Hells Angels clubhouse with police.
One of the men was handcuffed and put into the back of a police cruiser, she said.
Martin confirmed that a man was taken in for questioning Thursday morning, in relation to the woman’s allegations, but let go without being charged.
Police restricted anyone from entering the clubhouse while the scene was held.
When reached on the phone by the Spectator, club member James “Bubbs” Sherwood said it was an unfortunate set of circumstances.
“Here you are minding your own business and suddenly all this (stuff) is going down and you’re in the middle of it and not knowing what … is going on,” he said.
“The bottom line is it had nothing to do with the club or anyone here… We just got caught in the yellow tape for a (very) long time.”
with files from Matthew Van Dongen
noreilly@thespec.com
905-526-3199
Police responded to reports that a woman was “in distress” on Whitfield Avenue, near Gage Avenue North and Beach Road around 2:19 a.m., said spokesperson Catherine Martin.
That investigation is now closed and the scene was re-opened late morning.
Throughout the ordeal police refused to reveal many details about the incident, which sparked rumours of a violent crime in the neighbourhood.
Paramedics responded to the area to treat a woman who claimed to have been assaulted, said EMS platoon manager Jim Summers.
She was taken to Hamilton General Hospital with no serious injuries to be checked out, he said.
The neighbourhood – which includes a new Hells Angels clubhouse – was blocked off by police until roughly 11:30 a.m.
Neighbour Jen Moses said the woman was found in the bushes, at the second property in from Gage on Whitfield.
Neighbours reported hearing the woman crying.
Moses was walking her dog around 8 a.m. this morning when she saw a bunch of “young men” standing outside the Hells Angels clubhouse with police.
One of the men was handcuffed and put into the back of a police cruiser, she said.
Martin confirmed that a man was taken in for questioning Thursday morning, in relation to the woman’s allegations, but let go without being charged.
Police restricted anyone from entering the clubhouse while the scene was held.
When reached on the phone by the Spectator, club member James “Bubbs” Sherwood said it was an unfortunate set of circumstances.
“Here you are minding your own business and suddenly all this (stuff) is going down and you’re in the middle of it and not knowing what … is going on,” he said.
“The bottom line is it had nothing to do with the club or anyone here… We just got caught in the yellow tape for a (very) long time.”
with files from Matthew Van Dongen
noreilly@thespec.com
905-526-3199