No major incidents following Hells Angels’ visit

A vehicle theft ring linked to Hells Angels was dismantled in Quebec, and 21 vehicles were seized. (Darryl Dyck/The Canadian Press)

No major incidents were reported in Windsor-Essex after a visit from the Hells Angels.

Over 750 members of the Hells Angels and other motorcycle clubs were in the region last Wednesday and into the weekend.

Windsor Police and the Ontario Provincial Police had an increased presence during the groups’ gathering to ensure public safety.

Officers carried out approximately 40 enforcement actions under the Highway Traffic Act, municipal bylaws, and the Excise Act. They were also informing the public to leave the members of the motorcycle gangs alone.

Windsor Police Service Chief Jason Crowley said the majority of the time, the group was around their clubhouse in Amherstburg, as well as a number of strip clubs and bars in the region.

“No big issues at all. There was large groups of motorcycles and people wearing colours throughout the community and certainly on Howard by their clubhouse, a lot of traffic, but really no, no big issues at all. And just like we said to people, they’re just going to keep themselves and they did.”

Crowley added, it was important to give the community a heads-up prior to the riders’ arrival.

“We would have got calls if we wouldn’t have put something out that there’s large groups of Hells Angels spotted in the downtown core, ‘what’s going on’, we would have got that. So it’s just better to get front of it and say, ‘hey, look, there’s nothing really to be worried about here’. Even though we know there is a background of organized crime and some very concerning issues, but for this event, we really didn’t expect much in the way of social disorder, and we didn’t get that.”

While there was heightened police presence and minor concerns from the public, Crowley said the community did benefit through local restaurants, bars, and hotels being booked.

He adds that the Biker Enforcement Unit, as part of the OPP, was a big help in the success of the weekend.

With files from AM800’s The Shift with guest host Michelle Maluske