Greg Carr
2005-11-26 21:33:10 UTC
Hells Angels store plan raises Halifax chief's ire
Last updated Nov 25 2005 11:00 AM AST
CBC News
The Hells Angels motorcycle gang plans to open a retail store in
Halifax, but don't expect police Chief Frank Beazley to shop there.
"The Hells Angels are an organized crime group," said Beazley. "The
majority of their activities are criminal in nature and any legitimate
business front that I've seen have been nothing more than fronts for
criminal activity."
The club's website lists Halifax as one of three Canadian cities where
the bikers plan to open stores called Route 81.
The "8" stands for the eighth letter in the alphabet and "1" the
first, representing HA. There are already Route 81 outlets in Prince
Edward Island and New Brunswick.
The stores sell T-shirts, hats, jewelry and other items that feature
the club's slogans.
Donnie Peterson, a member of the gang's downtown Toronto chapter, says
the stores attract collectors and people curious about the bikers, and
the club plans to capitalize on that.
"We have licensed products that we sell to the public. And it also
indicates the support that we have from the public, which is another
thing the police don't like," Peterson said.
The police chief says the force is not sure where or even if the store
advertised on the website will open.
Beazley hopes the retail store is not a sign that the Hells Angels
plan to reopen the Halifax chapter, which was disbanded after a
massive police raid in 2001.
Peterson says the Angels open and close chapters for a variety of
reasons. He will not say if the club plans to return to the Maritimes.
The Criminal Intelligence Service of Canada considers the Hells Angels
to be the foremost organized crime group, topping traditional Mafia
and ethnic gangs. It began in 1948 in California and has grown to a
network of 1,800 members in 22 countries.
http://www.cbc.ca/ns/story/ns-hells-store20051125.html
Among the classy acts the Halifax Hell's Angels did before they ran
away was pimp out white teenage girls through black pimps in Prescott,
Nova Scotia and run out out of a burning building and leaving their
woman behind. The house had been torched by her ex. Mike McCrea the
Halifax Pres. relocated to the west coast. His brother also a Hell's
Angel was convicted of drug charges. Great work by Halifax police and
concerned civilians in shutting them down.
Vigourish Clothing located just off 80th Ave and east of Scott Rd in
Surrey has a 2004 BC Federation Of Police Officers sticker on the
doorway and also sells Nomads Support t-shirts prominently displayed
in the front window.
Last updated Nov 25 2005 11:00 AM AST
CBC News
The Hells Angels motorcycle gang plans to open a retail store in
Halifax, but don't expect police Chief Frank Beazley to shop there.
"The Hells Angels are an organized crime group," said Beazley. "The
majority of their activities are criminal in nature and any legitimate
business front that I've seen have been nothing more than fronts for
criminal activity."
The club's website lists Halifax as one of three Canadian cities where
the bikers plan to open stores called Route 81.
The "8" stands for the eighth letter in the alphabet and "1" the
first, representing HA. There are already Route 81 outlets in Prince
Edward Island and New Brunswick.
The stores sell T-shirts, hats, jewelry and other items that feature
the club's slogans.
Donnie Peterson, a member of the gang's downtown Toronto chapter, says
the stores attract collectors and people curious about the bikers, and
the club plans to capitalize on that.
"We have licensed products that we sell to the public. And it also
indicates the support that we have from the public, which is another
thing the police don't like," Peterson said.
The police chief says the force is not sure where or even if the store
advertised on the website will open.
Beazley hopes the retail store is not a sign that the Hells Angels
plan to reopen the Halifax chapter, which was disbanded after a
massive police raid in 2001.
Peterson says the Angels open and close chapters for a variety of
reasons. He will not say if the club plans to return to the Maritimes.
The Criminal Intelligence Service of Canada considers the Hells Angels
to be the foremost organized crime group, topping traditional Mafia
and ethnic gangs. It began in 1948 in California and has grown to a
network of 1,800 members in 22 countries.
http://www.cbc.ca/ns/story/ns-hells-store20051125.html
Among the classy acts the Halifax Hell's Angels did before they ran
away was pimp out white teenage girls through black pimps in Prescott,
Nova Scotia and run out out of a burning building and leaving their
woman behind. The house had been torched by her ex. Mike McCrea the
Halifax Pres. relocated to the west coast. His brother also a Hell's
Angel was convicted of drug charges. Great work by Halifax police and
concerned civilians in shutting them down.
Vigourish Clothing located just off 80th Ave and east of Scott Rd in
Surrey has a 2004 BC Federation Of Police Officers sticker on the
doorway and also sells Nomads Support t-shirts prominently displayed
in the front window.