Wave of gang violence 'imminent,' police say

A recent police crackdown on a puppet club of the Manitoba Hells Angels has created a street-level power vacuum that another rival outlaw motorcycle gang is trying to fill prompting police to warn of "imminent" violence between the two groups.

According a to sworn affidavit made to obtain a search warrant, Winnipeg police say biker gang the Rock Machine has been trying to capitalize on the fact that most members of rival gang the Zig Zag Crew were swept up in a police sting called Project Divide in December.

The Zig Zag Crew is the street-level enforcer group for the Hells Angels. Police used an informant who was paid $500,000 to infiltrate the gang over the period of a year.

'Tensions are extremely high between these groups and violence is imminent.' Winnipeg police organized crime investigator

The intelligence collected allowed police to make more than 30 arrests and lay charges ranging from drug and weapons trafficking and conspiracy, to those relating to participating in a criminal organization.

But the arrests also left room for rivals to make their move for control of the city's drug trade, police suggest in the affidavit.

"During this time members of the Rock Machine have been capitalizing on the fact that the Hells Angels members and supporters are low in number and have been "flying" their colours throughout the city of Winnipeg, thus enraging members of the Manitoba Hells Angels," investigators say in the documents.

All remaining members of the Hells Angels and another support club, called Redlined, have armed themselves in an expected wave of violence in retaliation for the beating of a Rock Machine member at an auto body shop in south Winnipeg in mid-January, police said.

"Tensions are extremely high between these groups and violence is imminent," investigators said. "Members of the Redlined and Hells Angels supporters have been placed on high alert and have been tasked with actively seeking out and Rock Machine [members] or Rock Machine associates and to "take care" of them by any means necessary," they added.

Police obtained the search warrant in order to recover a Browning 9mm semi-automatic handgun allegedly in the possession of one of the Redlined members they said was present when the Rock Machine member was beaten at the body shop.

A confidential informant identified in the document as "X" told police the man had the gun "because of the ongoing dispute" between the two gangs. He "needs to have it ready in case of any retaliation by members or associates of the Rock Machine," the documents said.

Justin Macleod, 30, is charged with eight weapons offences related to the search, including possession of a firearm with an altered serial number and possession of a restricted firearm with ammunition.

He was released from jail pending trial on a $25,000 recognizance and a $15,000 surety, documents show. He's bound by a daily curfew of 11 p.m. to 7 a.m. and ordered to have no contact with three people two of whom police said are high-ranking members of the Hells Angels.