Members of the Hells Angels are returning to the Greater Toronto Area this weekend for their annual meeting, after holding an “unsanctioned” procession in Toronto yesterday.
Up to 1,000 members are expected to descend on Whitby’s Brooklin community today for the motorcycle club’s annual national ride. The rally is expected to last until Sunday.
As a result, police have closed Highway 12/Baldwin Street north of Columbus Road from Friday through Sunday at 9 p.m. People should also expect an increased police presence in this area this weekend.
“We ask that residents obey our detour signs, avoid the area if possible, and if you are faced with any type of traffic congestion, just be patient and try to manage it,” Regional Police Sgt. Durham. Joanne Bortoluss told reporters Friday afternoon.
Police held a news conference Monday to alert the public about the large gathering and said they expected the three-day event to be “uneventful.”
Bortoluss said there are checkpoints set up in the area to ensure drivers are traveling safely.
“We’re checking for any kind of sobriety, we’re checking that people are properly classified on the license, and that’s what we’re doing,” he said.
Bortoluss added that until Friday afternoon there had been no problem with the gathering.
“Nothing criminal has happened so far. We have no indication that anything criminal is happening. We are here because it is a large-scale event. We expect a lot of people and we are here to ensure the safety of the public. .”
TODAY through Sunday: Due to a large-scale event involving the Hells Angels MC this weekend, Hwy 12/Baldwin Street in north Columbus will be closed from 4 a.m. Friday, July 22 until to Sunday, July 24 at 9 p.m. Only local traffic can access it. Detour signs will be in place. See map below. pic.twitter.com/i7Ce8sxnkQ
— Durham Regional Police (@DRPS) July 22, 2022
The gathering comes after a large procession of up to 1,000 members of the Hells Angels traveled from Newmarket to Toronto’s east end on Thursday.
Police warned the public about the “unsanctioned event” a day earlier and said they were ready to manage traffic and ensure public safety during the rally.
The memorial run was in honor of longtime Toronto Hells Angels member Donny Petersen, who died at age 74 of natural causes.
After leaving Newmarket around 11 a.m., the bikers entered Toronto and parked in front of a store on Carlaw Avenue believed to be operated by the club.
The cyclists stayed in the neighborhood for several hours, and then most left shortly before 3 p.m.
“The procession took place without incident, with officers present on the city streets to manage traffic and ensure public safety. No arrests have been made in connection with this event,” Toronto Police Service spokeswoman Stephanie Sayer said in a statement to CP24 Thursday afternoon.
Roads in the area were closed during the rally, but reopened ahead of schedule around 3:30 p.m.