TIGHT REIN ON BIKERS PAYS OFF, POLICE SAY

Problems 'Minimal'

Fireworks and heavy metal music spiced a weekend gathering of the
Hells Angels motorcycle club that police say left the Windsor area unscathed.

An early Saturday brawl outside a west-end strip club resulted in the
only four arrests of the weekend.

"It's not anti-climactic whatsoever," said Insp. Jerome Brannagan of
Windsor police, who helped manage a joint forces operation that kept
watch over the notorious motorcycle gang.

"We view it as we were very successful in the operation by having the
public feel it was a non-event."

Hundreds of Hells Angels from across Canada were expected as the
bikers gathered at their Howard Avenue clubhouse in Amherstburg to
mark the fifth anniversary of their move into central Canada.

Brannagan said there were "minimal problems" from the Hells Angels on
Saturday night, which was anticipated to be the biggest party night
for the group's assembled members, prospective members and associates.

"By all accounts, they were very well maintained," Brannagan said.

The loudest action came from a 10-minute fireworks display and live
rock music courtesy of an AC/DC cover band.

The OPP Biker Enforcement Unit maintained a presence across the road
from the clubhouse, observing a steady flow of vehicles come and go
from the compound gates.

But by 10:30 p.m. only four BEU officers remained posted.

Interaction between bikers and police in front of the property was
minimal, and Brannagan said communication with Hells Angels
representatives "didn't happen to the degree we had hoped."

Just after the fireworks, an unidentified biker preparing to leave
the compound taunted BEU officers, saying, "You think you'd have the
sense enough to bring a chair."

Sunday afternoon, the visiting bikers were already beginning their exodus.

"We're satisfied from a policing standpoint," Brannagan said. "We
wanted the citizens of this city and area to feel safe and secure. As
well, we wanted to send a message to the Hells Angels that we were
here in number."

Brannagan said a number of tickets were issued, mostly for traffic infractions.

The sizable police presence, that included officers from out of
province, had at least one citizen wondering if it was all worth it.

"What did it cost the taxpayers for this police presence?" said a
60-year-old property owner who lives near the Hells Angels'
clubhouse. "I don't know what they accomplished by being here, other
than traffic control."

Ray, who didn't want his full name published, said he's gotten to
know those at the clubhouse, even visiting the premises and sharing
in some conversation over a beer.

"They're definitely good neighbours," Ray said. "They're just like
you and I are. We talked truck-driving, building things -- work."

As for the Saturday night festivities across the street, Ray said he
enjoyed being near them, and even held a matching party on his own
property for family and friends.

"The fireworks were awesome," Ray said. "The kids loved it. They were
just ecstatic."

Brannagan defended the scope of the police operation, and maintained
that police believe the purpose of the gathering was for the Hells
Angels to discuss criminal business.

"It's our understanding that they're an organized crime group that
does meet to do business," Brannagan said. "As much as they want to
portray themselves otherwise, the vast majority of their membership
are people with significant criminal records."