Motorcycles and law enforcement officers engaged in a continuous chase game.

ARTICLE REWRITE

Let's chat about the wild biker bash that went down recently in good old Saint-Charles-sur-Richelieu. This annual hootenanny, famously known for being a massive display of badassery, witnessed a swarm of motorcyclists, including the notorious Hells Angels crew, descend upon the town.

The local constabulary, ever on their toes, anticipated this yearly event. They Intended to round up each and every bike-riding ex-con, inspect their machinery, slap 'em with a fine if they didn't play by the rules, and snap a few photos to keep their spy files up-to-date. But this year, the Hells Angels pulled a fast one by rocking up in three separate convoys, taking three different routes - even one that was blocked off for tourists. All this chaos left our boys in blue running around like headless chickens, hopping off their posts to deal with the situation.

The showdown saw the participation of around 75 law enforcement agents from several departments, including the Sûreté du Québec (SQ), Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP), Montreal Police Service (SPVM), Laval Police Service (SPL), Longueuil Agglomeration Police Service (SPAL), Roussillon Police, Richelieu-Saint-Laurent Police, Quebec City Police Service (SPVQ), and Trois-Rivières Police Service. A helicopter from the SQ even joined the fray, flying overhead to keep an eye on things.

During the free-for-all, members from the five Quebec Hells Angels sections and around 15 other Canadian groups were spotted. These groups included the Marauders of Montreal, Patriot Riders, Satans Crew, Evil Ones, Dark Souls, Gitans, and a new crew, the Red Tails Quebec. A member of the Marauders was nabbed for carrying a prohibited weapon (not a gun) and was promptly slapped with a 'pinky promise' to appear in court.

Ultimately, the officers dished out more than 340 tickets for various violations, including motorcycle non-compliance. A resident who wished to remain anonymous reached out to La Presse, complaining that a motley crew of around 60 motorcyclists were driving way over the 50 km/h speed limit when schoolkids were returning home. "It was crazy," they sighed, adding that some of the neighbors were left scratching their heads in disbelief.

This melee was reportedly a celebration of the 40th anniversary of the Sherbrooke section (1984) and the passing of a long-time member, Jean-Paul Ramsay, last December. However, the police couldn't help but notice the large gathering of sections and support clubs, hinting at a demonstration of power from the Hells Angels.

The dominance of the Hells Angels, still considered by police as Quebec's most significant criminal organization, has been facing challenges from other gangs and independent traffickers in several regions of the province for over a year now. Just a few days prior, one of their members, Craig McIlquham, 55, president of the Niagara chapter, was brutally gunned down in Burlington, Ontario.

If you've got burning questions, shoot 'em over to Daniel Renaud. Give him a ring at 514 285-7000, extension 4918, drop him an email at drenaud@our website, or send him a letter at La Presse's postal address. But watch your back - you never know who might be watching!

The motorcyclists, including the infamous Hells Angels, likely chose three different routes through Saint-Charles-sur-Richelieu for their annual gathering, which was reportedly a celebration of the 40th anniversary of the Sherbrooke section.
A notable incident during the event involved a motorcyclist from the Marauders, one of the Canadian groups present, being apprehended for carrying a prohibited weapon.
The police, from departments such as the Sûreté du Québec, Royal Canadian Mounted Police, Montreal Police Service, and others, were aggravated by the chaos, with around 75 agents dishing out more than 340 tickets for various violations.
The general news and crime-and-justice sphere have focused on the Hells Angels, considered Quebec's most significant criminal organization, which has been facing challenges from other gangs and independent traffickers for over a year.