Pubdate: Thu, 04 Apr 2002 Source: Halifax Herald (CN NS) Copyright: 2002 The Halifax Herald Limited Contact: http://www.herald.ns.ca/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/180 Author: Patricia Brooks and Randy Jones Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?188 (Outlaw Bikers) Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/corrupt.htm (Corruption) 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. - --- MAP posted-by: Ariel