Hamilton 'outlaw' motorcycle gang members arrested for robbery and assault, police say

Five men who police say are members of "outlaw" 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 Aug. 21 by Hamilton police and Ontario Provincial Police (OPP)'s Biker Enforcement Unit, said the OPP in a news release Friday. 

It was part of an investigation that began after a person was assaulted at an "establishment" on July 4, and robbed of their personal items, said police. 

"Outlaw motorcycle gangs continue to be involved in violent occurrences throughout our communities," said OPP Det.-Insp. Scott Wade in a statement. 

The two police forces also executed search warrants at the homes of the accused as well as the Hells Angels and Red Devils' clubhouses in Hamilton, the OPP said.

Officers found four shotguns, three rifles, a shotgun barrel, ammunition, body armour and a gun licence, said police. 

All five men, whose ages range from 34 to 51 years old, 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 breach of a probation order and unauthorized possession of a prohibited device, said police. Another was also charged with breach of 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 club for the Hells Angels.

Police said they consider outlaw motorcycle gangs to be criminal organizations "whose activities cause harm and victimization in communities across Ontario." 

The motorcycle gangs have been known to participate in fraud, drug trafficking, extortion, intimidation and murder, police said.