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Wednesday, May 8, 2013
Outlaw bikers hit a roadblock on memorial ride
Zeke Ride: Hell’s Angels, other bikers allegedly fail to obey police
Staff reporter
News Leader Pictorial
M
staff reporter
Hell’s Angels’ member finds registration papers for police during Saturday’s big road-side check stop near North Cowichan municipal hall. Charges for traffic violations are pending.
ore than 100 suspected outlaw motorcyclegang members could be ticketed for allegedly failing to obey police commands to pull over during Saturday’s Island Highway check-stop north of Duncan, police say. Sgt. Lindsey Houghton of B.C.’s Combined Forces Special Enforcement Unit said 150-plus members of clubs — including the Hell’s Angels, Jesters, and Devil’s Army — were intercepted at around 2:15 p.m. outside North Cowichan municipal hall by “a few dozen” officers during the clubs’ annual Zeke Ride. “They hold this ride at the same time every year, and we had information they’d be riding today,” he said. The southbound cruise of roaring Harley Davidsons was a memorial for Edward (Zeke) Mickle, a former president of Nanaimo’s Hells Angels’ chapter, who disappeared 20 years ago, he explained. Bikers who allegedly failed to stop
will be traced and ticketed through police photos, and digital movie footage, of their license plates. Tickets for failing to obey a police officer could span $150 to $200 each, he said. Another spokesperson said some bikers could face other charges, such as running red lights, after the column left Nanaimo’s Hell’s Angels’ clubhouse and headed south. The bikers, some wearing club colours on black jackets, reached the North Cowichan road-check, then allegedly blocked the highway by stopping their bikes and cutting the engines, a spokesperson said. Some members spoke with police, then some riders pulled over at the special stop check marked by orange cones, and flanked by officers in yellow safety clothing. Other bikers continued riding south. A dog-squad stood by the stoppoint dominated by a command-post vehicle. An RCMP helicopter also circled the scene, and landed later beside the Somenos Marsh. more page 7
Sign vandalism disturbing to Sherry
Vacant threat: Police and Nanaimo-North Cowichan’s Conservative taking minor damage in stride
Peter W. Rusland
News Leader Pictorial
S
ign vandalism is just part of the political game to northend candidate John Sherry. But Nanaimo-North Cowichan’s B.C. Conservative noted Sunday’s threatening defacing of his highway sign at Mount Sicker Road pushed the envelope too far when vandals, perhaps separate criminals, spray-painted ‘No B.C. on stolen land’, and ‘Kill John Sherry with fire.’ “Vandalism will be a part of every election campaign; it’s just unfortunate when it transcends issues with a particular party, or politics in general, and becomes personal,” he told the News
Leader Pictorial Tuesday. Still, the easy-going Tory said he didn’t report the damage to police. “I didn’t feel it was a genuine threat. We didn’t involve the RCMP; they’re busy with more important issues. “I’m sure no one had any intent to light me on fire. They were maybe a little hateful in their comments, and crossed the line.” Cpl. Jon Stuart of the North Cowichan/Duncan’s detachment was surprised when emailed a photo of Sherry’s trashed sign. “Wow,” he said, agreeing the culprit crossed the threat line. “(Sherry) should have reported this to us, but there’s not much we can do without a witness,” Stuart said, noting
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Don Bodger
It seemed more like summer on the weekend in the valley. Shawnigan Lake’s famous national-level water skier Jed Leech took advantage of the ideal conditions on the lake Sunday to perfect his skills, as his main competitive season heats up early.
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police will open a file about Sherry’s incident to see if a pattern emerges. “It looks like someone spray painting and getting their anger out, but this doesn’t look like a death threat.” Police have noted some general sign destruction in the north-end and Cowichan ridings, Stuart indicated. Sherry said Conservative signs, plus those of other candidates, have been stolen. “It happens,” he said. “It’s just in the past few days we’ve seen serious destruction of signs, but it’s been a great campaign with far less (sign damage) than what I might have expected. “The NDP and Liberals are experiencing sign issues as well.”
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