Members of Hamilton ‘outlaw’ motorcycle gang arrested for theft and assault, police say

Five men who police say are members of illegal motorcycle gangs have been charged in connection with a robbery that took place in Hamilton in July.

Four members of the Hells Angels Motorcycle Club and one member of the Red Devils Motorcycle Club were arrested on August 21 by Hamilton police and the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) Biker Enforcement Unit, the OPP said in a news release on Friday.

It was part of an investigation launched after someone was attacked and robbed of his personal belongings at a “business establishment” on July 4, police said.

“Rule of law motorcycle gangs continue to be involved in violent incidents in our communities,” OPP Det.-Insp. Scott Wade said in a statement.

The two police forces also conducted searches at the suspects’ homes and at the clubhouses of the Hells Angels and Red Devils in Hamilton, the OPP said.

Officers found four shotguns, three rifles, a shotgun barrel, ammunition, bulletproof vests and a gun permit, police said.

All five men, ranging in age from 34 to 51, were charged with assault causing bodily harm and robbery, police said. Two are from Hamilton and the rest are from Brantford, Toronto and Grimsby.

One of the men was also charged with violating a probation order and unlawful possession of a prohibited device, police said. Another was also charged with violating firearms storage regulations.

The Hells Angels Hamilton chapter started in 2005 and is one of 14 in Ontario. The gang has about 6,000 members worldwide. The Red Devils are a support group for the Hells Angels.

According to police, criminal motorcycle gangs are criminal organizations, “whose activities cause harm and victimization in communities across Ontario.”

According to police, the motorcycle gangs are known for their involvement in fraud, drug trafficking, extortion, intimidation and murder.