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. - --- MAP posted-by: Beth Wehrman