Surrey, B.C. (December 18, 2018) BTN — Surrey Mayor Doug
McCallum says he had no idea that the Hells Angels had opened a clubhouse in
his city, even after a pledge from police several years ago that the motorcycle club would not be allowed to set up there.
McCallum, who was elected in October, said on Monday that
the Hells Angels are “not welcome” in Surrey.
After a service this past Saturday service for murdered
Hells Angel Chad Wilson, his fellow bikers gathered at the HA’s Hardside
chapter clubhouse, which is on a small acreage near 180th St. and 96th Ave.
Mayor wants the Hells Angels MC Clubhouse closed up
Officers from the Combined Forces Special Enforcement Unit,
Surrey RCMP, Vancouver Police Department and other RCMP detachments monitored
both the Maple Ridge funeral and the afterparty, both of which Postmedia
reported on.
Wilson had moved over to the Hardside chapter when it opened
on March 17, 2017. He had previously been a member of the Haney Hells Angels
and the “Dago” chapter based in San Diego.
The clubhouse is believed to have opened some time in 2018 —
five years after former top Surrey Mountie Bill Fordy pledged to block another
Hells Angels chapter from using Surrey as its base.
McCallum echoed that sentiment in a statement to Postmedia
on Monday. “Hells Angels are not welcome in Surrey. I was unaware that
a clubhouse had been set up here recently,” McCallum said. “I will be addressing
this matter immediately with the officer in charge of Surrey RCMP.”
That officer, Asst. Commissioner Dwayne McDonald, said
Monday that his officers are well aware of the clubhouse. “The police and the City of Surrey were made aware of the
Hells Angels intention to set up a clubhouse in 2017 and, at that time, the
city and the police collectively reviewed all legal means to keep this
clubhouse out of Surrey,” McDonald said in a statement Monday.
“However, the police have no legal authority to deny someone
from purchasing or renting a residence.”
He said he agreed with McCallum that the Hells Angels are
not welcome in Surrey “and that we will use every lawful means to ensure that
their members are not participating in any criminal activity in this city.”
McDonald said both Surrey RCMP and officers with the
anti-gang CFSEU “have regular contact with members of the Hardside chapter to
ensure they understand our expectations regarding public safety.” There have not been any problems at events hosted by
Hardside or other outlaw motorcycle gangs in Surrey, he said.
In January 2013, former head Mountie Fordy said he met with
the president of the West Point Hells Angels chapter to tell him not to
establish a clubhouse in Surrey. West Point started in 2012 and was expected to
base itself in Surrey.
West Point waited years to open its clubhouse, which is
located in a rented house on 2.25 acres in Langley, near the Canada-U.S.
border. The Hardside chapter also appears to be in a rented house,
which is located on two acres of property zoned agricultural. The property,
assessed this year at just $47,000 because it is farmland, is owned by a Delta
couple that has no apparent association with the Hells Angels.
Hells Angels spokesman Rick Ciarniello did not respond to an
emailed request for comment Monday.
Currently, the Hells Angels are embroiled in a long-running
court case with the B.C. government over the ownership of three clubhouses in
Nanaimo, Kelowna and East Vancouver. The director of civil forfeiture wants the
properties turned over to the government as instruments of criminal activity.
The Angels have alleged the Civil Forfeiture Act is unconstitutional. The trial
resumes in February.
CFSEU Sgt. Brenda Winpenny said the Hells Angels use their
club as “a place where they can have their meetings, social gatherings,
parties, and store assets belonging to the club.”
The bikers also use their clubhouses to create legitimacy
and public awareness of their brand.
“Clubhouses are armed by overt surveillance and fortified to
ensure security,” she said. “Clubhouses also serve as an intimidation factor in
the communities where they exist.”
