Pubdate: Tue, 13 Mar 2007 Source: Winnipeg Free Press (CN MB) Copyright: 2007 Winnipeg Free Press Contact: http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/502 Author: Mike McIntyre KEY FILES FELL INTO HELLS' HANDS Include Officer E-Mails, Phone Numbers, Jurors Hear CONFIDENTIAL Winnipeg police and justice documents -- including officer e-mails and phone numbers, profiles of local gang members, reports on prior investigations and secret plans and strategy -- fell into the hands of the Hells Angels, jurors heard Monday. The massive security breach has been revealed publicly for the first time at the trial of a full-patched biker, who has pleaded not guilty to nine charges including drug trafficking, extortion, proceeds of crime and participating in a criminal organization. Two veteran officers told court Monday they were stunned to find the classified information during a search of the biker's East Kildonan home in February 2006 following a year-long undercover investigation that used a paid police agent and resulted in 14 other arrests. A brown envelope marked "Taxes and Receipts 2005" and contained in the top drawer of a table was actually a hiding spot for hundreds of pages of highly sensitive documents which never should have left the custody of police and justice officials. "Certainly not. These documents are very restricted," Sgt. Gordon Penner told jurors. The officers didn't speculate on how the local Hells Angels may have got the items or what purpose they may have been used for. Jurors were not told whether any police or justice investigation has been conducted following the discovery of the documents, which included: * A Winnipeg Police Service "emergency roadblock plan" which covers all six districts in the city and details how police should respond - -- and what intersections sealed off -- when searches are underway for criminals. The plan even includes specific instructions for dealing with escaped prisoners from Headingley Jail and Stony Mountain penitentiary. "Is this the kind of information you would want the general public to know about?" Crown attorney Chris Mainella asked police Const. Sean Cassidy on Monday. "No," the officer replied. * Extensive justice profiles for more than a dozen rival drug dealers and gang members to the Hells Angels. These documents -- which can only be accessed by police and corrections officials -- contain photos of the men and women, detailed descriptions, contact numbers, criminal history, friends and associates and institutional offences. They are clearly marked "Sensitive Information" at the bottom of the page. "Would this type of information be accessible to the public?" asked Mainella. "No it would not," said Cassidy. * A 1995 internal police e-mail communication between two officers discussing an ongoing drug investigation. The writer named a specific target and is requesting help from his colleague in finding other people who can assist in the case. The e-mail would have only been available to someone with access to the police computer system, jurors were told. * Notes on a 1997 joint-forces Winnipeg police and RCMP investigation called Project Disarm. Prepared at the time by the officers, these include several pages of references to the specific members assigned to the case, their personal cellular phone numbers, their position within the investigation (such as "on the cover team") and even the type of vehicle they are driving. Included in the notes is specific reference to one of the targets and mention of doing future drug buys inside the Stock Exchange Hotel. * The names of more than 50 rival gang members in Winnipeg, including the Bandidos. Ian Garber, the lawyer representing the biker, suggested Monday that Winnipeg police had actually prepared the typed list and distributed it to bars around the city with instructions to "not let these people in." "I'm not aware of any such list ever being prepared as you suggest," said Cassidy. * A list, prepared by police in 1997, titled Winnipeg Youth Gangs. The documents include the names of several dozen teens allegedly involved in street gang activity at the time Police also recovered a long list of names and phone numbers of members and associates of the Hells Angels and their puppet club, the Zig Zag Crew, which had been prepared by the gang as a means of keeping track of everyone. The biker's trial is scheduled to last until the end of April. Here's a number-by number look at some of the notable items police found inside Hells Angels member's home during a Feb. 15, 2006 raid: HUNDREDS of pages of classified police documents including officer e-mails and phone numbers, profiles of rival gang members, reports on prior investigations and secret plans and strategy EIGHTY pieces of clothing with Hells Angels logo FIFTY names of rival gang members, including the Bandidos SEVEN surveillance cameras surrounding the home DOZENS of names and phone numbers of Hells Angels and associates from chapters around the world including Canada, United States, Denmark, South Africa, Germany, England, Sweden, Portugal, France, Brazil, Australia, Italy and Holland TWO safety deposit box keys that led to the discovery of $6,500 cash ONE Hells Angels mouse pad FOUR Hells Angels toques ONE brown envelope marked "Taxes and Receipts 2005" containing the previously mentioned confidential documents - --- MAP posted-by: Elaine