Hells Angels setting up a chapter in Charlottetown say police

Charlottetown police say they're keeping a close eye on the Hells Angels in the city. Police believe the organization is setting up a new chapter in the downtown.

A dozen RCMP and city police staked out what they say was a gatheringcelebrating the establishment of the new club Saturday in Charlottetown.

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Police say about 100 people wearing various gang jackets came and went over a six-hour period.

Police stood nearby and videotaped what was going on.

We want them to know they are going to draw a lot of attention- Brad MacConnell, Charlottetown police

They say they wanted the people who attended the meeting to know police were watching.

"We want them to know that they are going to draw a lot of attention here in Charlottetown," saidCharlottetown Deputy Police Chief BradMacConnell. "They are going to be a top priority for our police services."

RCMP saidthe new club is considered a "hangaround" club.

"That group is made up of former members of clubs in P.E.I. but they're affiliated hangaround status with the Woodbridge, Ontario chapter of the Hells Angels,"said RCMP Cpl. Andy Cook, outlaw motorcycle gang coordinator for the province.

Cook said the Hells Angels are interested in P.E.I. as territory.

"With the Hells Angels it's always about territory and when we talk about territory we're also talking about the drug market and certainly P.E.I. is made up of coastline and would be very attractive in that regard."

Surveillance will continue

Police saidthey observed no criminal activity Saturday, but will continue to watch the property in Charlottetown and to monitor other activities of people associated with it.

"We're really trying to focus on what we can do to deal with the problem and that would be any provincial acts, any municipal acts, and any criminal code or controlled drug substances, any act under the sun. Anything legal we can do, we will, to try and deal with the issue If there is criminality within that group we'll certainly conduct investigations as we receive information," said Cook.

Police saidthey also intend to install a surveillance camera in the neighbourhood, as part of the city's E-Watch program.

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