HELLS ANGEL, THREE OTHERS FACE CHARGES FOR ASSAULTS

A well-known Hells Angels gang member and three others are facing numerous
charges after the operators of two marijuana grow operations were held
captive, tortured and extorted out of money and property, Surrey RCMP say.

It was the second time in the past month that biker Juel Ross Stanton was
arrested on similar charges.

In the most recent incident, Stanton, a 33-year-old Surrey resident and a
member of the East End Chapter of the Hells Angels, is facing charges
including robbery, forcible confinement, aggravated assault, assault with a
weapon and issuing threats.

Three associates of the bike gang are facing similar charges. They are
Stanton's brother, Norman Clay Stanton, 35, of New Westminster, Damon
Bartolomeo, 22, of Coquitlam, and Richard Joseph Doucet, 28, of Surrey.

Over several months in late 2001, it is alleged that at least two male
victims, both in their 30s, were held captive, beaten, tortured and
extorted out of money and property.

Both men have connections to marijuana grow operations.

Surrey RCMP media liaison officer Constable Tim Shields would not release
more specific information about the case.

Shields said it is common for people involved in the lucrative pot-growing
business to target small-time marijuana growers in an effort to wipe out
the competition.

Most of these crimes go unreported because the victims are afraid to
contact police because they are involved in an illegal activity and because
they are scared of retaliation, Shields said.

The victims in the most recent case, who suffered serious injuries, are not
facing charges, he said.

The Surrey RCMP is appealing to any other victims of similar crimes to
contact police.

The arrest of Stanton in last month's case stemmed from two men reporting
an alleged extortion, assault and confinement in Pitt Meadows. The incident
was alleged to be a payback for a "grow rip" -- the theft of a marijuana
growing operation -- late last year in Coquitlam. One of the victims was
allegedly beaten, threatened and extorted out of a motorcycle, car, and
potentially his house and business, police say.

RCMP officers from Surrey, Langley, Ridge Meadows and Burnaby joined forces
with Vancouver police in the investigation that led to the arrests in
August. Police then appealed for more victims to come forward, and that led
to this month's arrests.

The probe that led to charges in the extortion cases in August and
September came as a result of information received while police were
investigating a notorious crack house on 108th Avenue in Surrey, Shields said.