OFF THE WIRE
Three members of the Bacchus motorcycle group were charged with uttering threats and using intimidation. (CBC)
Three members of the Bacchus motorcycle group have been released from custody Thursday after making a brief appearance in Dartmouth provincial court on charges of uttering threats and using intimidation.
Patrick James, 45, and David Pearce, 38, both from Dartmouth, along with Duane Howe, 43, from Grand Desert, were charged after RCMP searched four locations, including the Bacchus clubhouse on Hogan Road in Nine Mile River.
Police also searched residences on Renfrew Road and Elmwood Road in Dartmouth and Dyke Road in Grand Desert.
They seized vests displaying Bacchus logos, small quantities of marijuana, steroids, psilocybin (magic mushrooms), a number of computers and cell phones.
“Outlaw motorcycle groups like the Bacchus think they control certain areas of our community and that’s just not the case,” said Supt. John Ferguson in a news release.
“Police are not going to tolerate it, nor are the citizens of Nova Scotia going to allow a group of individuals to conduct criminal activity in our neighbourhoods and then threaten and intimidate people.”
Ferguson said groups like the Bacchus portray themselves as motorcycle enthusiasts who are unfairly targeted by the police.
"Nothing could be further from the truth,” he said.
Bacchus is one of Canada's oldest biker clubs, with links to the Hells Angels. Its members have been arrested in raids involving the Angels, and the club is respected in the outlaw biker world.
The three men will be back in court Oct. 5.
The investigation is ongoing.
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/nova-scotia/story/2012/09/21/ns-bacchus-charged.html