BN- The recent opening of two new Gate Keepers motorcycle club chapters in Nova Scotia is a sign of the Hells Angels’ growing interests i...
BN- The recent opening of two new Gate Keepers motorcycle club chapters in Nova Scotia is a sign of the Hells Angels’ growing interests in the province, police say.
The Gate Keepers, who already had existing chapters on the Eastern Shore and South Shore and in Pictou and Kings counties, have opened shop in North Sydney and Halifax since July.
The North Sydney chapter is located at 58 Tobin St. and the Halifax clubhouse is at 2683 Fern Lane.
“It’s a push by the Hells Angels to expand,” Cpl. Mike Kerr of the combined forces intelligence unit said Friday. “Clearly, they want to show an interest in Halifax.”
He’s previously said the Gate Keepers are a support club under the Hells Angels’ London, Ont., chapter.
Kerr said he is unsure what type of work will be carried out by the new chapters.
“They’re secretive about how they do business,” he said. “They are a support group for the Hells Angels and I certainly am not prepared to make any comment at this time as to criminality.”
The Fern Lane clubhouse is painted white with a red door, which are the Hells Angels colours. The building’s owner is listed as LNI Holdings Inc.
The Cape Breton clubhouse is owned by Clarence Michael Blaine Slade.
RCMP have previously said they believe the Hells Angels intend to open a chapter in Nova Scotia, something that hasn’t existed since a Halifax clubhouse shut down in 2003.
Asked if he thinks the outlaw motorcycle gang is looking to return to Nova Scotia, Kerr said, “We’re monitoring information from different sources. It is difficult to predict what exactly is happening. The fact that there is six Gate Keepers chapters that are sanctioned by the Hells Angels, perhaps they don’t see an immediate need to move in at the moment.”
The back patch worn by Halifax Gate Keepers claims a home turf called “Mainland.”
Kerr said police are puzzled by that geographical part of their insignia.
“That remains unknown,” he said of the turf claimed by the bikers.
He said police will monitor the group, collect information and run investigations to find out what is happening. He said patch-wearing members of the Hells Angels have visited the building
“We’ve received reports from the local police officers performing their patrol duties,” Kerr said.
Police have not visited neighbouring homes of the clubs, but advised neighbours to call police or Crime Stoppers if they see illegal activities.
He said the Gate Keepers and Bacchus, which has a clubhouse in Harrietsfield, appear to have a “mutual tolerance” for one another.
“There isn’t any information suggesting that there’s any violence towards either group.”
A neighbour on Fern Lane, who did not want to provide his name, said he was OK with the bikers being in the neighbourhood if they keep to themselves.
Kerr said he expects Gate Keepers, Bacchus and many other bikers clubs will be heading to Digby for this weekend’s Wharf Rat Rally. He is not anticipating any trouble, however.
“It is a main attraction for biker enthusiasts,” he said. “We expect it to be just that.”
More: http://thechronicleherald.ca/metro/1309295-hells-angels%E2%80%99-support-club-comes-to-halifax-north-sydney
