Pubdate: Thu, 26 Jun 2008
Source: Toronto Sun (CN ON)
Copyright: 2008 Canoe Limited Partnership
Contact:  http://torontosun.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/457
Author: Ian Robertson
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mjcn.htm (Cannabis - Canada)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?188 (Outlaw Bikers)

BIKER TURF WAR FEARED

York Police Urge Region To Bring In Bylaw Barring Fortification Of Clubhouses

The threat of a looming biker gang power struggle has police across 
Ontario on high alert as the summer heats up, York Region's top cop says.

And with two Hells Angels chapters in his region, he's counting on a 
bylaw banning fortresses that is being drafted for all nine York 
municipalities to consider.

Rumours persist of an invasion by rival bikers though there have been 
no signs yet, Chief Armand La Barge said.

"The Hells Angels enjoys the luxury of being the most powerful outlaw 
gang in the province," he told the Sun. But, in addition to the 
threat by rival gangs, "some members .. are disenchanted."

Police are hearing rumours the Loners and Rock Machine want to take 
on the Hells, La Barge said, evoking memories of the 1990s turf war 
that killed 156 people in Quebec.

Ottawa later ordered tougher penalties for anyone convicted as a 
member of a criminal group. Dozens of bikers got longer prison terms.

The Bandidos were a big threat for the Hells, but its Toronto chapter 
was gutted when eight members were murdered in 2006 near London, 
north of Chatham-Kent.

Six men, including the ex-head of the Loners, who survived a 1999 
assassination attempt after he rebuffed Hells recruitment, go on 
trial next Feb. 23 for murder.

Unless anti-fortification bylaws are in place, La Barge said warring 
bikers can install sheet metal, barbed wire, gun ports, electrical 
boobytraps and cement barriers to block gatecrashers, drive-by 
shootings, bombs and police raids.

York's regional council backed his warnings in 2004, but only Vaughan 
and Newmarket passed bylaws.

Anticipating that the Hells know rivals want a slice of their 
drug-dealing, extortion, weapons trafficking, cargo heists, 
prostitution and strip clubs, police recently alerted the regional 
council and the police board about the Hells' Woodbridge chapter 
moving to a house near Schomberg, in King Township.

King council rejected such a bylaw years ago, fearing "retaliation" 
against unarmed staff, township clerk Chris Somerville said.

But given regional and po -lice board support, "our council likely 
will have to consider a similar bylaw pretty soon ... likely in the 
fall," he said.

"I think we're closer now ... hopefully by 2009," La Barge said.

He pledged police support for bylaw officers.

York Region solicitor Joy Hulton said a committee of municipalities 
and police will consider a draft being prepared by Richmond Hill city 
staff, "hopefully this fall."

"It certainly does aid in enforcement and prosecution if there is a 
uniform bylaw."

The first such bylaw in On -tario, which Chatham-Kent passed in 2003, 
outlawed "excessive fortification of land or excessive protective 
elements being applied to land."

The province's top court refused to hear an appeal by two bikers.

Such bylaws will also target drug labs and indoor marijuana grow-ops, 
which La Barge said pose health, fire and electrocution risk to 
residents, police and firefighters.

Scarborough motorcycle shop owner Donny Peterson, a longtime Hells 
spokesman, declined comment yesterday.

Dismissing "rumours" of trouble as "nonsense," a Rock Machine member 
said "there is no hostility with the Hells Angels, no conflict 
whatsoever." He said police are "making these claims to further their agenda."
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom