RCMP CONFIRM ARREST STORY

Halifax Hells Angels President Arrested After December Raids

The president of the Halifax chapter of the Hells Angels was arrested in
December - by an RCMP officer later charged with drug trafficking.

Michael McCrea's arrest at a Toronto airport on Dec.6 came two days after a
Nova Scotia-wide sweep against the powerful outlaw motorcycle gang.

Operation Hammer, involving more than 200 RCMP, Halifax Regional Police and
municipal officers, included storming and seizing the gang's bunker-like
Dutch Village Road clubhouse.

Police also raided several homes across the province - some belonging to
gang members - arrested about 20 people and seized thousands of items.

Four prominent Hells Angels were among those arrested. One was released
without charges.

But news of Mr. McCrea's arrest was not made public.

RCMP now confirm that details of his arrest contained in a letter on the
Hells Angels MC Halifax Web site are accurate.

Entitled an Open Letter to Canadian Citizens, it was purportedly written by
Mr. McCrea and was first drafted on Dec. 10 and revised two weeks ago.

Mr. McCrea "was interviewed in Toronto and released in Toronto," Sgt. Wayne
Noonan, the RCMP's Nova Scotia spokesman, confirmed Wednesday.

Mr. McCrea has not been charged but Sgt. Noonan couldn't say if any more
charges are expected from the December raids.

In a strange twist, Sgt. Noonan confirmed that Mr. McCrea was arrested by
Const. Danny Ryan of Tantallon RCMP, who made national headlines the next
month when he was charged with trafficking marijuana.

Const. Ryan is suspended and living in the Ottawa-Hull region, where he was
originally scheduled to be transferred to work as a bodyguard for the prime
minister.

Another unidentified officer assisted in Mr. McCrea's arrest, which was
described as uneventful. It is believed that Mr. McCrea provided police
with little, if any, information during his questioning.

In a long, scathing letter attributed to Mr. McCrea on the Web site, the
writer expresses outrage about the Dec.4 bust, claiming Canada's new
anti-biker laws are unjust.

It also offers disturbing details that the gang may know the identity of a
police informant used in Operation Hammer.

The letter states police "have paid a drunk and convicted drug dealer $500
to $750 each week from the start of his contract in October 2000 to the end
of the trial, as well as witness relocation and six months' start-up
expenses and then $250,000 at the end of his testimony."

The letter adds that the unnamed informant was twice busted for growing
pot. It sarcastically speculates that he will eventually use his riches to
set up a hydroponic growing operation out west.

Sgt. Noonan said investigators are aware that the Hells Angels know police
used an agent in the investigation.

"Specifically how and if the agent was compensated - we're not prepared to
discuss that in a public forum right now," the officer said.

The accused and their associates could have learned the informant's
identity through disclosure of evidence in court, Sgt. Noonan said. He
wouldn't say if the force intends to provide increased protection for the
informant.

The letter explains that Mr. McCrea wasn't in the country at the time of
the raids. He was in Europe for an international Hells Angels gathering in
Portugal and to attend a friend's funeral in Amsterdam.

The letter claims that over 6,000 catalogued groups of items were seized in
the raids.

At Mr. McCrea's home, police took his computer, bottles of wine and wine
glasses with the Angels' death-head logo, his 1991 Harley-Davidson, family
photos, anniversary plaques and the contents of his junk drawer.

"I must admit my wife said the police were very polite and did not scare
her or my three-year-old daughter, which I do appreciate," the letter reads.

A Dartmouth provincial court judge will soon hear an application from
federal prosecutors to let them keep some items seized in the raids for an
extended period.

The letter seeks donations for a defence fund.