Arrest of alleged Hells Angel in Fredericton not cause for concern, police chief says

Fredericton's chief of police wants to allay any public fears related to the recent arrest of a local man identified by RCMP as a full-patch member of the Hells Angels.

Chief Leanne Fitchdeclined to comment Monday on any specifics about the case of Robin Moulton, 48, who is charged with possession of cocaine for the purpose of trafficking and possession of a restricted firearm a 9 mm Beretta without a licence.

"Getting down into the weeds of any particular aspect of ongoing or past or present issues could jeopardize investigations and officer and public safety,so I won't be commenting on any specifics," she said.

But Fitch did point out that outlaw motorcycle gangs have beenan issue in New Brunswick for "many, many years."

"So their presence isn't new, but certainly when we see an increase in that presence there are some people that will express concern from the average citizen to police officers working in the field," she said.

• Motorcycle gang members, including Hells Angels, attend biker's memorial
• Hells Angel's court case relocated over security concerns

Moulton'sAug. 22 arrestcame on the heels of thehomicide last month ofRonald Richard, a former member of the Bacchus motorcycle club nearMinto,pushingthe issueto the forefront of public attention, saidFitch.

In addition, ninemen from P.E.I., identified by Charlottetownpolice as"hangarounds" with the Hells Angels chapter in Woodbridge, Ont., were charged earlier this monthunder Criminal Code organized crime legislation.

When you're dealing with organized crime, you have to have an organized response.- LeanneFitch, Fredericton police chief

And police in Nova Scotia saidin June they expected a full-fledged chapter of the Hells Angels to be established in the province withina matter of months.

Fitchsaid the Fredericton Police Force is "well-positioned to deal withvarying degrees of criminal activity" in the city and continues to work collaboratively with multiple police agencies inNew Brunswick and across Canadato monitor the activities of outlaw motorcycle gangs.

"They're not restricted by the geographic lines on a map, which is why it's so important to work together," she said. "When you're dealing with organized crime, you have to have an organized response."

Moulton, an alleged member of theHells Angels Nomads New Brunswick chapter,was arrested as part of an ongoing joint-forces investigation, RCMPhave said. It is being led by thenational police force,in partnership with the Canadian Border Services Agency and the Saint John, Fredericton, Kennebecasis Regional and Edmundstonpolice forces.

Fitchsaid members of the public also have a role to play by reporting any suspicious or illegal activity to their local police or Crime Stoppers.

"We want people, obviously, to be safe and to be vigilant but that's with anything, whether it's localneighbourhood vandalism up to and including organized crime," she said. "The police can't tackle these issues on our own."

Moultonremains remanded in custody and is scheduled to appear in Saint John court on Thursdayat 10 a.m. to face the two charges against him.

New Brunswick RCMP spokesperson Cpl. Jullie Rogers-Marsh could not say whether additional charges are expected in connection with items allegedly seized from his residence on Brunswick Street in Fredericton or other searches conducted at "several locations" across the province.

In addition to the undisclosedquantityof a substance police believe to be cocaine, allegedly found inMoulton's car when he was stopped on the Trans-Canada Highwaynear Woodstock, RCMPsaid they seized:

• A high-powered rifle with a silencer.
• A loaded handgun.
• Aquantity of drugs.
• Drug paraphernalia.
• Full-patch Hells Angels jacket.
• Hells Angels "support club" patches.
• "Support81Maritimes" clothing, which police say is a metonym for Hells Angels the eighth letter of the alphabetbeingH, and the first letter of the alphabet beingA.

Richard's homicide is still under investigation, said Rogers-Marsh. RCMPhave said they do not believe his homicide was random. An autopsy was to be performed, but no cause of death has been released.

"We are continuing to ask for the public's assistance," she said. "If anyone has any information they are asked to call their local RCMP or Crime Stoppers."

The body of the 50-year-old was discoveredon July 23 on a rural property in Hardwood Ridge,about 10 kilometres north ofMinto.

About 80 members of outlaw motorcycle gangs attended a memorial service for Richard in Fredericton on Saturday.

The jackets of about 10 bikerswho attended the event had visible Hells Angels New Brunswick patches. Others displayed the logos ofGate Keepers, Elm City Fredericton, Miramachines, as well as some fromNova Scotia and Quebec.

The celebration of life was organized by the Gate Keepers. Moulton, who was Facebookfriends with Richard, described him in a postas a "fallen president" of the capital city Gate Keepers New Brunswick.