CHARLOTTETOWN, P.E.I. - P.E.I.’s Woodbridge Hells Angels hangaround club is a step away from becoming full-patch members of the biker gang, says a member of the province’s organized crime task force.
RCMP Cpl. Andy Cook said so far the police have seen two of the hangaround club members wearing prospect patches, but they think it’s likely all members have been promoted.
“We do believe that everyone did, but we still have to confirm that.”
The RCMP reported that on Nov. 12 the police established the change to “prospect" status after seeing one of the club members wearing a bottom rocker with the words “Prince Edward Island” on the back of their vest.
That vest had a patch with the word “prospect” on the front along with a Charlottetown chapter patch.
A website for the Hells Angels also lists P.E.I. as a “prospect area.”
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The next step for the P.E.I. group will be to obtain its status as full-patch Hells Angels members.
Cook said from a policing standpoint the change to a prospect club is a big thing.
“They’ve pretty much come right out and said ‘Prince Edward Island is ours,’” Cook said.
That’s a standpoint he disagrees with.
“This is not their Island. It’s our Island and when I say our Island I mean Prince Edward Islanders,” Cook said.
There is no set time for how long it takes to move from one stage to the next, but Cook said it is roughly a year.
Cook said the members all have duties, which would only increase with the promotion to prospects as they move closer to becoming full-patch Hells Angels.
“They’re going to put you through your paces,” he said.
Becoming a full-patch member involves putting in time in good standing and there has to be agreement from clubs across the country that they merit getting the full patch, Cook said.
“That’s still a long road for them to go.”
P.E.I.'s organized crime task force arrested nine alleged members of the Hells Angels affiliated club in August as they were leaving their Fitzroy Street clubhouse in Charlottetown.
They were charged with taking in money for games of chance without a lottery licence.
Each of them is also facing charges related to participating in activities of a criminal organization and committing an offence for a criminal organization.
Last month the men made brief appearances in provincial court where the matters were adjourned until Jan. 22.
