Pubdate: Fri, 29 Sep 2006
Source: Windsor Star (CN ON)
Copyright: 2006 The Windsor Star
Contact:  http://www.canada.com/windsor/windsorstar/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/501
Author: Doug Schmidt, Windsor Star

COPS ARREST DOZENS IN BIKER CLUB SWEEP

More than 21 police tactical teams -- including officers from Windsor 
- -- fanned out across southern Ontario Thursday, arresting dozens of 
motorcycle gang members in pre-dawn raids targeting Hells Angels, 
Vagabonds and their associates.

"Project Tandem is quite likely the largest investigation of this 
type in Ontario history," OPP spokesman Sgt. Bob Paterson said of an 
18-month operation involving approximately 500 police officers.

With the raids and cleanup operations continuing through Thursday, 
Paterson said details of the charges, court appearances and seized 
property -- weapons, narcotics and vehicles -- would not be divulged 
until a news conference today in Toronto.

The alleged illegal activities under investigation include organized 
crime offences and counselling to commit murder. The items seized 
were weapons, drugs and stolen property, including vehicles.

"Those activities are going to be significantly interrupted," 
Paterson said of organized biker activities in the province.

Police describe the Hells Angels, who moved into Ontario in 2000 with 
a massive "patch-over" of smaller clubs, as the largest outlaw 
motorcycle gang in Canada. The Vagabonds are another Ontario-based 
motorcycle gang, albeit mostly absorbed into the Hells Angels organization.

The Hells Angels' Windsor chapter compound on Howard Avenue in 
Amherstburg was cordoned off with police tape Thursday. 
Machine-pistol toting Windsor police tactical team officers in two 
marked Ford Excursions blocked off the entrance as detectives and 
other officers came and went from the clubhouse that had hosted a 
large national gathering of Hells Angels this summer.

Three men sporting Hells Angels insignias on their clothing and skin 
arrived and spoke briefly to officers but were told a search warrant 
was being executed and they could not enter.

Similar police actions took place at the same time in the Toronto, 
Hamilton and Niagara regions by local police services, the OPP and 
the RCMP. A total of 11 police forces were involved in the joint 
Project Tandem, which focused on street-level crime in communities 
across Ontario.

Officers with weapons drawn reportedly stormed into the change rooms 
of a 24-hour fitness club in Mississauga, surprising semi-clothed 
members who were frisked and questioned.

Most of those arrested in the police raids were being transported to 
Toronto's 42 Division, said Paterson, but some were being processed 
in the jurisdictions where they were nabbed.

Windsor police spokesman Staff Sgt. Ed McNorton said no information 
could be released locally on Thursday. He suggested it was because 
Project Tandem operations were continuing through the day.

Windsor police Supt. Dave Pickford will be among the senior officers 
attending this morning's joint forces news conference in Toronto.
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MAP posted-by: Elaine