jeremy Warren
starpheonix
The hundreds of Hells Angels in Saskatoon for the weekend came and went without causing major trouble, according to police and the lawyer representing the local chapter of the notorious biker gang.
Depending on who one talks to, the national run - which brought around 400 Hells Angels members and associates to Saskatoon - was either a significant meeting of a powerful criminal organization or a regular convention of motorcycle enthusiasts who wined, dined and golfed in the city and took at least one riverboat cruise.
"They were very, very cooperative with police," Insp. Jerome Engele said on Sunday during the mass exodus of Hells Angels from Saskatoon.
"They wanted no problems - We achieved our goals. There were no major incidents."
The Saskatoon chapter of the Hells Angels had local lawyer Morris Bodnar oncall all weekend and he said members caused no trouble for police, as he expected.
"If I had to make a living off the work I get from the Hells Angels, I would starve because there is nothing going on," said Bodnar, who has represented the Saskatoon Hells Angels chapter and its previous incarnations for 30 years.
Police, including about 75 officers from agencies outside Saskatoon, ran checkstops on highways leading into the city to monitor the Hells Angels and check for traffic violations. Around 265 summary offence tickets were issued as part of the operation, although that number also includes citizens not connected to the club, Engele said.
The operation also focused on gathering intelligence on Hells Angels members and associates.
The "national run" is a mandatory meeting for Canadian Hells Angels members that happens every few years and police viewed the event as a chance to investigate the club, which over the years has been connected to violence and drug trafficking in Canada, Engele said.
The event proved to be important for police from other jurisdictions and for local police keeping tabs on the Saskatoon chapter, he added. The national event is essentially a social event for the Hells Angels, but police suggest meetings are held with chapter presidents to discuss club business.
"We learned of some connections and there are things we've now been made aware of," Engele said. "It helped us out and I think it helped the outside agencies."
Most bikers in Saskatoon for the national run had left by Sunday. During the weekend, Hells Angels were observed hanging out in small groups at various restaurants and nightclubs while the Saskatoon Hells Angels Avenue Q clubhouse was the centre of several large gatherings, Engele said. About 30 members went on a boat cruise of the South Saskatchewan River, he added.
It is unfair to describe all Hells Angels members as criminals just because some members have been convicted of crimes, Bodnar said.
"I've defended a number of police officers over the years for different offences and you don't blame the whole force for the incidents, you blame the individuals," Bodnar said, adding later that police would arrest Hells Angels members if they had evidence to back up charges.
Depending on who one talks to, the national run - which brought around 400 Hells Angels members and associates to Saskatoon - was either a significant meeting of a powerful criminal organization or a regular convention of motorcycle enthusiasts who wined, dined and golfed in the city and took at least one riverboat cruise.
"They were very, very cooperative with police," Insp. Jerome Engele said on Sunday during the mass exodus of Hells Angels from Saskatoon.
"They wanted no problems - We achieved our goals. There were no major incidents."
The Saskatoon chapter of the Hells Angels had local lawyer Morris Bodnar oncall all weekend and he said members caused no trouble for police, as he expected.
"If I had to make a living off the work I get from the Hells Angels, I would starve because there is nothing going on," said Bodnar, who has represented the Saskatoon Hells Angels chapter and its previous incarnations for 30 years.
Police, including about 75 officers from agencies outside Saskatoon, ran checkstops on highways leading into the city to monitor the Hells Angels and check for traffic violations. Around 265 summary offence tickets were issued as part of the operation, although that number also includes citizens not connected to the club, Engele said.
The operation also focused on gathering intelligence on Hells Angels members and associates.
The "national run" is a mandatory meeting for Canadian Hells Angels members that happens every few years and police viewed the event as a chance to investigate the club, which over the years has been connected to violence and drug trafficking in Canada, Engele said.
The event proved to be important for police from other jurisdictions and for local police keeping tabs on the Saskatoon chapter, he added. The national event is essentially a social event for the Hells Angels, but police suggest meetings are held with chapter presidents to discuss club business.
"We learned of some connections and there are things we've now been made aware of," Engele said. "It helped us out and I think it helped the outside agencies."
Most bikers in Saskatoon for the national run had left by Sunday. During the weekend, Hells Angels were observed hanging out in small groups at various restaurants and nightclubs while the Saskatoon Hells Angels Avenue Q clubhouse was the centre of several large gatherings, Engele said. About 30 members went on a boat cruise of the South Saskatchewan River, he added.
It is unfair to describe all Hells Angels members as criminals just because some members have been convicted of crimes, Bodnar said.
"I've defended a number of police officers over the years for different offences and you don't blame the whole force for the incidents, you blame the individuals," Bodnar said, adding later that police would arrest Hells Angels members if they had evidence to back up charges.
"If they think they're involved in the drug business, then find out what's going on and arrest them. Don't harass them on the road."
Bodnar said the police went overboard with the enforcement targeting the Hells Angels and associates in Saskatoon for the national event.
"They were doing things to harass these guys," said Bodnar, referring to the highway checkstops, at which police took photos of the bikers. "When police stop people on the highway, they don't photograph them - It was such a waste of resources."
Bodnar said the Saskatoon chapter is mulling the idea of sending a complaint about police treatment to the Saskatchewan Police Commission.
Police contend the extra law enforcement helped keep Saskatoon safe during the weekend.
"I'd be worried if people said we're under-enforcing," Engele said. "Everything we did was in the bounds of the law - It's a battle where we are fighting not only (the Hells Angels) but also a small part of the public that sort of sides with them, thinking they're just motorcycle enthusiasts who are doing nothing wrong and we're picking on them.
"It's unfortunate they don't know the real stories. What they see on the outside of an organization isn't necessarily what's happening on the inside."
jjwarren@thestarphoenix.com
Read more: http://www.thestarphoenix.com/Bikers+party+cause+trouble/6973626/story.html#ixzz21VGygTX1Bodnar said the police went overboard with the enforcement targeting the Hells Angels and associates in Saskatoon for the national event.
"They were doing things to harass these guys," said Bodnar, referring to the highway checkstops, at which police took photos of the bikers. "When police stop people on the highway, they don't photograph them - It was such a waste of resources."
Bodnar said the Saskatoon chapter is mulling the idea of sending a complaint about police treatment to the Saskatchewan Police Commission.
Police contend the extra law enforcement helped keep Saskatoon safe during the weekend.
"I'd be worried if people said we're under-enforcing," Engele said. "Everything we did was in the bounds of the law - It's a battle where we are fighting not only (the Hells Angels) but also a small part of the public that sort of sides with them, thinking they're just motorcycle enthusiasts who are doing nothing wrong and we're picking on them.
"It's unfortunate they don't know the real stories. What they see on the outside of an organization isn't necessarily what's happening on the inside."
jjwarren@thestarphoenix.com