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economist suntribune police saturday sept 7 2002 we help you protect what you value most we live where you live why is state farm your first and best choice for your insurance and financial needs superior financial strength one of the largest claims networks in north america outstanding customer service call or visit us today to find out how state farm can help meet your insurance and financial needs kevin joanne freeman agent 9275 markham rd fr suite207at16 keith jupp agent 3 centre st ste 201 markham ont 9052941562 markham ont 9052947415 john calovic agent 548 carlton rd unit 204 markham ont 905 4777244 state farm is therefor lifej statefarmcom state farm life insurance company canadian head office scarborough ontario mcnaughton agent 7725 birchmount rd ste 45 markham ont 905 4794900 rick allington agent 50 mcintosh dr ste 215 markham ont 9054771107 andrew mctaggart agent 190 bullock drive unit 3 markham ont 905 2946357 york cop from highprofile case facing weapons charges by jeff mitchell staff writer a york regional police officer was charged with assault and weapons offences last tuesday after a couple reported being confronted by a man with a shot gun near fenelon falls its the second time const michael hoskin who was off- duty at the time of the latest inci dent has been charged with weapons offences he was acquitted of weapons charges two years ago stemming for a highprofile police take down in 1998 that ended with the death of a sunderland man york regional police deputy chief armand la barge said friday the veteran officer has been reassigned to administra tive duties from his role as a frontline uniformed officer const hoskin 43 of sutton was charged by city of kawartha lakes opp following an investi gation that began june 29 opp const ted schendera said a man and a woman reported they were confronted by an armed man while they were riding an allterrain vehi cle along an abandoned rail line north of fenelon falls an argu ment over access to the trail ensued opp said it is alleged that a man armed with a shotgun blocked the trail during a verbal confrontation no one was hurt during the incident const schendera said it is alleged that a man armed with a shotgun blocked the trail during a verbal confrontation last tuesday the opp laid a weapons charge and two counts of assault against const hoskin who works out to 1 district headquarters in newmarket he is to appear in court in lindsay sept 19 const hoskin was a key fig ure in the fatal police shooting of a sunderland man and the wounding of his son in late december of 1998 and the sen sational trial that followed york region const randy martin was charged with second degree murder in the death of tony romagnuolo while durham region const al robins was charged with aggravated assault and a weapons charge in the wounding of 17yearold rocco romagnuolo const hoskin faced charges of assault with a weapon and careless use of a firearm all three officers were acquit ted after a tense closely watched trial that unfolded over five weeks in an oshawa courthouse the trial heard the york offi cers accompanied by two durham officers went to the romagnuolo home to arrest enzo another son who had allegedly threatened const hoskin after a traffic stop in york region the deadly melee that fol lowed was characterized as an excessive use of force by prose cutors while defence lawyers argued the officers acted appro priately when faced with a threat to their personal safety all of the officers returned to duty after their exoneration at the trial help needed against bikers cops tell region illegal biker gangs are thriving in york region and police need legislation to preverit them from turning clubhouses into heavily fortified bunkers politicians have been told duncan maclntyre a york region police officer seconded to the provincial biker enforcement unit said seven motorcycle gangs including the hells angels the outlaws and the loners are operating here with as many as 700 foot soldiers carrying out illegal activity we have the highest number of motorcycle gangs per capita in the region compared to any where else in canada const maclntyre told members of the finance and administration committee thursday there are an estimated 70 patchwearing gang members residing in the region each of whom would typically have as many as 10 associates he said biker gangs have clubhouses in woodbridge richmond hill keswick king township and whitchurchstouffville we actually have 700 people in the region daily conducting criminal activity const maclntyre said he urged quick endorsement of a bylaw that is being consid ered by municipalities through out the province aimed at pre venting the construction of heavilyfortified bunkers that serve as bases for bikers crimi nal activity the bunkers are buildings that are fortified with steel doors plexiglas and iron mesh in win dows and surveillance cameras const maclntyre said in the past police have had to use battering rams and acety lene torches to get past metal doors on clubhouses in richmond hill and woodbridge during raids richmond hill councillor dave barrow chair of the police services board urged commit tee members to move quickly on the law the committee passed a motion instructing staff to work with yorks nine member municipalities on passage of the legislation jeff mitchell 39th annual markham antique show one of ontarios oldest shows september 13 14 15 2002 location mount joy community centre 6140 sixteenth avenue markham hwy 48 sixteenth ave behind the garden basket friday 13th 430 pm 900 pm saturday 14th 1000 am 600 pm sunday 15th 1100 am 500 pm admission 400 14 and under free with an adult hourly door prizes sponsored by markham lions club check out our new antique appraisal service for more information contact ken harris 905 2941510 hope to see you there mikehiatt