Hells Angels Motorcycle Club Purchases Centereach Church

The Suffolk County chapter of the Hells Angels, the notorious motorcycle club, recently purchased a former church in Centereach to use as its new headquarters.

The former Baptist church on Lynbrook Street has been vacant for years, until the Suffolk chapter held a children's toy drive at the location last month.

A Hells Angels sign already hangs above the door of the church.

According to Newsday, Brookhaven town officials said residents have "expressed concern about the club's purchase, but they said the town cannot prevent the group from using the site as long as members abide by local codes."

“I share the concerns of the residents who have called me,” town Councilman Kevin LaValle told Newsday. “There's nothing we can say, like, 'You can’t come in here.' . . . They just have to come into compliance before they use the building.”

However, on Facebook, many people have expressed delight over the biker group settling in the community, noting it could drive gangs, such as MS-13, out.

Photo: Google Maps