Pubdate: Thu, 22 Jun 2006
Source: Calgary Herald (CN AB)
Copyright: 2006 Calgary Herald
Contact:  http://www.canada.com/calgary/calgaryherald/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/66
Author: Gwendolyn Richards
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?188 (Outlaw Bikers)

HELLS ANGELS ACTIVITY WORRIES BROOKS MAYOR

An apparent escalation of activity by the Hells Angels in Brooks is 
raising concerns for the city's mayor.

Mayor Don Weisbeck said about 40 members of the Hells Angels came 
into the city on June 2 and spent several hours that day and the next 
at a local hotel having meetings.

Weisbeck said the Hells Angels have had a presence in Brooks for 
several years, but having them come in full colours raises the 
concern they are bringing a different level of activity to the community.

"It's a show of force. That does concern us," he said Wednesday.

He added that the organized crime group has established a puppet club 
in the city to sell drugs and he worries about rivalry between gangs 
fighting over the drug market. "We can't be intimidated by them," he said.

RCMP officers are doing their best to combat the problem, said 
Weisbeck, and there has been some success in terms of arrests.

RCMP spokesman Sgt. Patrick Webb said the Hells Angels' stop in 
Brooks on June 2 is a concern to the force, as it would be if they 
stopped in any other community.

"RCMP are always concerned whenever there are any organized criminal 
groups, such as the Hells Angels," he said.

"We are constantly observing and investigating when criminal activity 
is identified."

Weisbeck said the city is also looking at ways to continue fighting 
the drug problem.

Last year, the city established a drug task force and implemented the 
Crime Stoppers program.

It is also working with the RCMP to try to establish a full-time 
member to work in schools and protect the community's young people from drugs.
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MAP posted-by: Beth Wehrman