By Sam Wroblewski 630wpro.com
Outlaw biker gangs are front page news following a deadly shootout in Texas which killed nine, wounded 17, and resulted in the arrest of nearly 200 individuals. With such a blatant display of violence, WPRO’s Gene Valicenti asks, are biker gangs a concern in the Ocean State?
According to Rhode Island State Police Superintendent Colonel Steven O’Donnell, outlaw biker gangs are continually monitored in the state.
“There’s been several arrests over the last several years, one in Woonsocket, one in Lincoln, North Providence, Westerly where [gangs] have membership,” said O’Donnell.
O’Donnell says two different organizations mainly operate in the New England area, the infamous Hells Angels and The Outlaws. Both groups have chapters in Rhode Island.
“[The Hells Angels] have a club house in Providence where they’re very active; a lot of people in other Hell Angels chapters throughout the world sometimes meet in Providence.”
O’Donnell says despite efforts by the Hells Angels to become more involved with charities over the years, the group still deals in drugs and money; in some cases partnering with the local mafia.
