Pubdate: Fri, 30 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
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?188 (Outlaw Bikers)

POLICE FEARED FOR INFORMANT AFTER HEARING HELLS' RECORDING

HELLS Angels member Ian Grant was caught on secret police 
surveillance making a series of profanity-laced threats that had 
officers worried about the safety of their undercover agent, jurors 
heard Thursday.

The audio and video recordings were played in court and show Grant 
appearing to lose his patience with Franco Atanasovic about a $60,000 
drug debt he allegedly owed from a previous deal that went bad.

"What the (expletive) is going on here? What is this (expletive)?" an 
angry Grant demands during a March 29, 2005 meeting.

Atanasovic had showed up with $2,000 towards the debt, which had been 
given to him by his police handlers in hopes of getting Grant to back 
off. Grant didn't feel that was sufficient following a handful of 
earlier small payments.

"Two thousand. You're getting it as I get it, Ian," says Atanasovic.

"Yeah? I don't give a (expletive). Listen, you owe me lots of 
(expletive) dough, man. I don't think you're taking this perhaps as 
(expletive) serious as you should be taking it," says Grant.

Grant then launches into a lengthy speech in which he tells 
Atanasovic to pay the balance or "I'll just beat the (expletive) snot 
out of you every time I see you."

"You're starting to piss me off. You're driving around in a fancy 
(expletive) bike every time I see you... but you don't got my 
(expletive) money. You get my (expletive) money, man. Get it right 
(expletive) now," says Grant.

"Sell your bike if you have to. I don't care how you get it... You do 
what you (expletive) gotta do, man. I don't care if you gotta go out 
and rob every (expletive) Domo in town."

Grant threatened to repossess Atanasovic's motorcycle by the 
following Monday if the debt isn't paid.

"I took one bike yesterday, man. I don't mind starting a (expletive) 
collection with them if I have to, OK? Do what you gotta do to get 
it. Otherwise, I'm taking that bike on Monday," he says.

The Crown claims the threats form the basis of the extortion charge 
Grant has pleaded not guilty to.

Police officers testified Thursday they became so concerned for 
Atanasovic's well-being they helped him pay the debt by arranging for 
the lease of a Harley-Davidson motorcycle that he then gave to Grant 
in lieu of the cash.

The motorcycle was seized by police as proceeds of crime when Grant 
and 12 other accused were arrested in February 2006.

Grant is also charged with trafficking drugs during three deals with 
Atanasovic that involved third parties. Jurors will begin viewing 
video and hearing audio of those transactions next week.

Atanasovic finished testifying on Wednesday following five days of 
cross-examination from defence lawyer Ian Garber.

Grant has also been charged with participating in a criminal 
organization. He is seen on video surveillance wearing his full Hells 
Angels colours, and the Crown will soon begin calling expert evidence 
about the bikers and how they operate.

The trial is scheduled to last until the end of April.
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MAP posted-by: Beth Wehrman