Pubdate: Mon, 09 Apr 2007
Source: Toronto Star (CN ON)
Copyright: 2007 The Toronto Star
Contact:  http://www.thestar.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/456
Author: Peter Edwards and Betsy Powell, Staff Reporters

BIKER 'RAT' OPPOSED GIVING TOUR TO MEDIA

Website Letter Says Turncoat Made 'Articulate, Passionate' Argument
Against Hells Angels Open House

The Hells Angel-turned police informant voted down a plan to invite
members of the media for a tour of the Eastern Ave. clubhouse, now the
property of the federal government after last week's massive police
sweep, the downtown chapter's website claims.

"In February, the downtown Angels were entertaining a motion to invite
the media into our clubhouse, show what it contained, lay our books
bare and compare security with adjacent commercial buildings that made
our low-tech measure laughable," reads the posting.

"The motion was defeated when one member made an impassioned plea to
keep the sanctity of the club private," it continues. "He was
articulate, he was passionate, he was working for the police."

Elsewhere on the site, in the "guestbook" section, it appears one of
the bikers has posted a personal letter to "Shaky," painting him as
the informant. It suggests the person posting the message grew
suspicious over time about an ongoing effort to entrap him and other
club members.

"... I sure wish I warned others. We are a big family that's very
careful not to hurt each other with unsure accusations, and we love
and trust each other and you traded and you profited and you schemed
on that," it reads.

"When you do see one of them 'snitchin rats' in the mirror, spit on
him for me will ya. You know who." It concludes: "Entrapment is legal
in Canada - Creating crime is the easiest way to solve it."

The Internet is also where an anonymous blogger leaked a judge's order
allowing federal authorities to seize the bunker-like clubhouse. The
March 25 posting of the confidential court document could have tipped
off the biker gang.

That clubhouse should be turned into a homeless shelter, suggests the
Internet blogger.

"It's central, secure and could probably hold 400 beds. Let's do it,"
said the blogger.

The suggestion was also posted March 25, 11 days before last
Wednesday's dawn raid.

The blogger, identifying himself only as drmm, would not respond to
questions posed by the Star about how he obtained the judge's order,
why he posted it on the Internet or how he feels about the Angels.

The clubhouse raid was part of a massive operation called Project
Develop, in which police made 31 arrests across southern Ontario, New
Brunswick and Vancouver.

For a full day after the raids by tactical officers, police said that
to ensure the safety of the 400 officers involved, they could not
comment on the operation.

Organized crime expert Antonio Nicaso, who has lectured
internationally on organized crime, said the Hells Angels are
particularly adept with computers, and the Internet leak could have
placed the lives of police officers and a police informant in the gang
at risk.

"They're probably the only organized crime group that advertises
itself on the Internet," Nicaso said, referring to how the Angels post
online critiques of policing and news coverage, and sell souvenirs, on
the Internet.

The judge drafted the order on March 14 after a court hearing in
London, Ont., that was so secret that the Hells Angels did not have a
lawyer present.

Bail hearings continue tomorrow for bikers arrested last week on
charges ranging from gangsterism to trafficking controlled substances
like cocaine and the date rape drug GHB.

The Eastern Ave. clubhouse was home to the largest Hells Angels
chapter in Canada, with three dozen members.

The judge's ruling allowed the transfer of the clubhouse and two
houses in Scarborough and Barrie to the federal government.

It stated that the bikers would learn that they lost their properties
only when they were served with search warrants:

"A copy of this order shall be served on the following parties but
shall only be served upon the execution of search warrants at the
properties whenever that may be," the order read.

The judge studied the affidavits of two police officers before ruling
the Eastern Ave. clubhouse and two houses were proceeds of crime under
anti-racketeering legislation.
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MAP posted-by: Steve Heath