ONE OF AMERICA'S MOST WANTED NABBED IN CENTRAL ALBERTA

INNISFAIL (CP) - RCMP in central Alberta ended a seven-year
international hunt Saturday when they captured an American fugitive
U.S. marshals say has links to the Hells Angels drug supply.

"He's a violent, violent felon," said deputy U.S. marshal David
Drake from Maine. "His propensity for violence is
extraordinary.

"I've been hunting him for four years."

U.S. marshals, however, issued their first warrant for the man in
1994. He is believed to have used a string of aliases to avoid detection.

Innisfail Mounties, with the help of Calgary and Red Deer RCMP
tactical teams, quietly arrested Robert Michael Shimek, 29, of
Minnesota at a country home west of the town, said Sgt. Ed Plitz.

"They had to be very careful because he's vowed not to be taken
alive," said Drake.

"I guess he was tired, sleepy and they waited and they picked their
time and they took him the safest way they could."

Drake said police tracked down Shimek in 1998 after capturing three of
his alleged underlings as they crossed from Canada into the United
States with a stash of drugs and fully automatic machine-guns.

Police allege Shimek made between $100,000 and $250,000 US a night at
rock concerts selling the drugs - mainly hydroponically grown
marijuana and LSD.

The trio's arrest led to Shimek's indictment on weapons and
trafficking charges and started Drake's dogged pursuit. So far,
Drake's investigation has led to 22 arrests, including three Canadians.

"Every day I would go to sleep at night thinking, 'What could I do
next to find him?' I would wake up in the morning going, 'What am I
going to do today?"'

Shimek has been featured on America's Most Wanted. Federal agents
allege he had as many as 50 people running drugs from Canada into the
U.S. Police believe his arrest has effectively shut down a major
hydroponic marijuana supplier to Hells Angels clubs across Canada.

Drake said Shimek will likely be sent to Thunder Bay, Ont., to face
charges because a trailer loaded with machine guns, liquid LSD and
drug paraphernalia was intercepted there in 1998.

He will also face charges when he is returned to Maine.