18 - The Oakville Beaver Weekend, Saturday April 7, 2007 www.oakvillebeaver.com Oakville man charged in bike gang roundup By David Lea OAKVILLE BEAVER STAFF An Oakville man is among 31 people arrested, last Wednesday, in a nationwide police action that targeted the alleged criminal activities of the Hell's Angels and Bacchus Motorcycle club. Joseph Peter Halak, 49, is facing a wide array of charges including, conspiracy to traffic in cocaine, two charges of possession of property obtained by crime, possession of cocaine, two charges of trafficking in cocaine and the committing of an offence in association with a criminal organization. "At 6 a.m. members of the Biker Enforcement Unit and the Halton Regional Police Tactical Rescue Unit executed a search warrant at an address in Glen Abbey. An individual was arrested and is facing an number of serious criminal charges," said Halton Police Inspector Chris Perkins during a Thursday press conference in Toronto on the police raids. "In addition to the charges he was facing prior to the warrant the officers that executed the warrant also found a set of brass knuckles and an expandable baton. So he's been charged with an additional DAVID LEA / OAKVILLE BEAVER ON GUARD: Halton Police Inspector Chris Perkins at the Toronto press conference for Project Develop. offence of possession of a prohibit- raid in which cruisers blocked off ed weapon." the street as officers forced their Perkins refused to comment on way into the Halak's residence. Halak's alleged gang affiliation Neighbours also reported hearonly saying that Halak is believed ing multiple explosions like thunto be connected to an organized der, which Perkins explains comes criminal element. with the territory in this kind of Residents of Warbler Road were raid. shaken out of their sleep, "You have to understand that Wednesday morning, by the police when the tactical unit, based on information they have, execute a dynamic entry there may be elements of noise and light and they will have a specific tactical purpose." Halak's raid was one of a series of raids that were carried out simultaneously across Canada with warrants also being executed in British Columbia and New Brunswick. Dubbed Project Develop the operation involved 400 law enforcement officers including local police forces, RCMP, OPP and the Canadian Border Services Agency. So far police have laid 169 charges and seized a wide variety of drugs, weapons, currency and property. This includes $996,000 worth of GHB (date rape drug), $982,800 worth of cocaine and $48,000 worth of hashish. "From the arrests and charges resulting from Project Develop the rhetoric of the Hell's Angels, as motorcycle enthusiasts, has been proven to be misleading propaganda," said OPP Biker Enforcement Unit Commander Dan Redmond, against a backdrop of three Hell's Angels jackets at Thursday's press conference. "Our enforcement initiatives make it clear the Hell's Angels are involved in drugs, weapons and violence related offences. The Hell's Angels are criminals and as such are not welcome in Ontario." Police are crediting intelligence gathering but also the information of a Hell's Angels informant with the richness of Project Develop's dividends. "Project Develop was an 18month investigation that utilized a full-patch Hell's Angels member as a police agent to infiltrate the Toronto downtown chapter of the Hell's Angels," said Redmond. "This is the second time in Ontario the Hell's Angels criminal activity has been exposed by one of their own." The Hell's Angels have not remained silent during this action accusing police of using Project Develop to steer public attention away from police corruption. With 16 chapters and over 200 full-patch members in Ontario the effects Project Develop will have on the Hell's Angels have yet to be seen although police are optimistic. "We're always hopeful that any arrest makes a dent in these situations," said Perkins. SPRIGGS INSURANCE BROKERS LIMITED 159 CHURCH ST. OAKVILLE, ON L6J 1N1 Oakville (905) 844-9232 Burlington (905) 681-4035 Mississauga (905) 798-7527 Fax (905) 845-1634 Web: www.spriggs.ca p gg E-mail: info@spriggs.ca p gg Optometrist 2530 Sixth Line, Unit 8B 905-257-3542 Dr. Robert J. Pachler Optometrist Oak Park AUTO · BONDS · PERSONAL PROPERTY · LIFE · MARINE · COMMERCIAL · DISABILITY · TRAVEL E Q: Why must I include my son or daughter on my policy? 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