Vikings Motorcycle clubhouses raided by police, 10 men arrested

Ten men were arrested followingmultiple raids of known biker clubhouses in NewfoundlandWednesday in a police operation that spanned theprovince's Avalon Peninsula.

According to theRCMP,officers executed five search warrants in St. John's and a sixth in Cupids in a series of raids which were linked to a two-year investigation ofthe Vikings Motorcycle Club.

The raids come just one day after a known associate of the club was charged with second-degree murder in relation to a 2014 killing.

• Vikings club member Al Potter charged with 2nd-degree murder in Dale Porter slaying

RCMP and RNCofficers converged on Sports Bar onBoncloddyStreet in St. John'saround noon, while police cruisers blocked off the downtown street. RCMPofficers were seen searching the saddle bags on a Harley Davidson motorcycle parked outside the bar.

According to neighbours, police also searched a service station in the community of Cupids on Wednesday.

RCMP take second man into custody on Cabot Street

8 years ago

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The RCMP took a second man into custody on Cabot Street Wednesday afternoon, just a short time after a raid on Sports Bar on Boncloddy Street, a known biker clubhouse.

Helicopter used

The RNC were assisting the RCMP in its investigation, which involved a helicopterthat was seen circling over the downtown area for hours.

Around 1 p.m.,a man wearing a Vikings vest was taken into custody on Cabot Street, an area which also has connections to the Vikings Motorcycle Club,just minutes away from the bar.The man went quietly with police.

That man is an associate of Al Potter, who wasarrested in London,Ont.on Tuesday and charged with second-degree murder in the death of Dale Porter.

The man has been seensupportingPotter during Potter'spreviouscourt appearances, which raised issues of witness intimidation in the courtroom.

• Key witness 'can't remember' details for Allan Potter assault trial

A short time later, a second man was taken into custody on Cabot Street.

Records show the home police were searching on Cabot Streetbelongs to Vincent Leonard.

Court documents filed after Dale Porter's death in June 2014 show the RCMP believe Al Potter and Daniel Leonard both biker club associates were suspected of murdering the North River man.

Police did not referenceLeonard during a media briefing this week, however.

Two RNC officersand anRCMP officerwere also outside a home on Hillview Drive West in the west end of St. John's Wednesday.

Police haven't confirmed whether that was linked to the two clubhouse searches.

'You can burn in hell'

Porter, 39, was killed on his North River propertyin Conception Bay North in June 2014.

Potter appeared brieflyin court in Harbour Grace on Wednesday, where he was ordered to have no contact with the family of Porter.

About a dozen family and friends showedup for the court appearance, including Porter's wifewho appearedshaken and angry.

"You can burn in hell," Tammy Porter yelled as Potter sat in the courtroom.

Potter'snext court appearance is scheduled for early November.

The RCMPwill hold a news conference on Thursday, to "announce the results of the investigation into the criminal activities of the Viking Motorcycle Club."

Police said "numerouscharges" against the ten men arrested Wednesday are pending.