Pubdate: Sun, 16 Jun 2002
Source: Edmonton Sun (CN AB)
Copyright: 2002, Canoe Limited Partnership.
Contact:  http://www.fyiedmonton.com/htdocs/edmsun.shtml
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/135
Author: Shane Holladay
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?188 (Outlaw Bikers)

WE'VE GOT HIM!

Alberta Mounties Nab One Of America's Most Wanted

Central Alberta RCMP ended a seven-year international manhunt yesterday, 
capturing an American fugitive U.S. marshals call a "violent felon" with 
links to the Hells Angels' drug network.

"He's a violent, violent felon. His propensity for violence is 
extraordinary," deputy U.S. marshal David Drake, from Maine, told The 
Sunday Sun yesterday.

"I've been hunting him for four years."

With the help of Calgary and Red Deer RCMP tactical teams, Innisfail 
Mounties arrested Robert Michael Shimek, 29, a Minnesota native, without 
incident at 5:30 a.m. on an acreage west of the town, said Sgt. Ed Plitz.

Drake, who said U.S. marshals issued their first warrant for Shimek in 
1994, is ecstatic.

"They had to be very careful because he's vowed not to be taken alive, and 
he'll splash law enforcement with the liquid LSD that he keeps on his 
person," he said.

In 1998, Drake said police tracked down Shimek again after capturing three 
of his alleged underlings as they crossed from Canada into the U.S. with a 
stash of drugs and machine-guns.

Shimek allegedly made between $100,000 and $250,000 US a night selling the 
drugs -- mainly hydroponically grown marijuana and LSD -- at rock concerts, 
said Drake.

"And then he would backpack and drag millions of dollars back across the 
border into Canada."

The trio's arrest eventually led to Shimek's indictment on weapons and 
trafficking charges, and started Drake's dogged pursuit.

So far, Drake said his investigation has led to 22 arrests, including three 
Canadians.

"Every day I would go to sleep at night thinking, 'What could I do next to 
find him.' I would wake up in morning going, 'What am I going to do today.' "

Shimek, who had a tattoo of a bat on his right shoulder, was featured on 
America's Most Wanted and federal agents say he had as many as 50 people 
running drugs from Canada into the U.S.

Two of the machine-guns seized in the border arrests led police back to 
Hells Angels in Montreal, Drake said.

Shimek allegedly split with the outlaw bikers in Quebec after they refused 
to buy his hydroponic pot unless he agreed to sell their stock of cocaine 
and heroin.

"Shimek was adamant about not touching those drugs. He just moved 
operations from the East Coast to the West Coast."

After the indictment in 1998, Shimek fled to Vancouver, said Drake, and 
waited for his friend and girlfriend to bring him his drugs and property.

That's when Ontario police intercepted the U-Haul in Thunder Bay loaded 
with machine-guns, liquid LSD and drug paraphernalia, said Drake.

Shimek will be sent to Thunder Bay to face charges. If the Crown stays 
them, he'll be punted from Canada to face a life sentence for "continuing 
criminal enterprise" charges in Maine.
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