Waco Biker massacre cases dismissed

Waco, Texas. USA (April 2, 2019) BTN —  Recently elected District Attorney Barry Johnson said in a release that, "following the indictments, the prior District Attorney had the time and opportunity to review and assess the admissible evidence to determine the full range of charges that could be brought against each individual who participated in the Twin Peaks brawl, and to charge only those offenses where the admissible evidence would support a verdict of guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. In my opinion, had this action been taken in a timely manner, it would have, and should have, resulted in numerous convictions and prison sentences against many of those who participated in the Twin Peaks brawl. Over the next three years the prior District Attorney failed to take that action, for reasons that I do not know to this day."

Johnson said that when he assumed office in January, the statue of limitation expired on most of the offenses.

"I believe that any effort to charge and prosecute these individual charges at this time would only result in further waste of time, effort and resources of the McLennan County judicial system and place a further unfair burden on the taxpayers of McLennan County," Johnson said.

Related | Governor wants new anti-gang center for Waco

Related | Waco: Police Opened Fired On Bikers Witnesses Say

Archive | Waco Shooting History

On May 17, 2015, a shootout erupted at the Twin Peaks located in the Waco Central Texas Marketplace. The shootout was between two motorcycle clubs - the Bandidos and the Cossacks.

Nine bikers died in the shootout and dozens were injured. Following the incident, nearly 200 bikers were arrested.

Of those 177, 155 were indicted with various charges.

The first trial was held in September of 2017. The defendent, Jacob Carrizal, was being charged with engaging in organized criminal activity and directing activities of a criminal street gang. His trial lasted one month and ended with a mistrial.

After his trial, the amount of money spent on these cases totaled more than $1 million.

The results of Carrizal's trial started a domino effect. No other biker was tried, and the district attorney at the time, Abel Reyna, began dropping Twin Peaks biker cases. At one point, 60 cases were dismissed at one time by Judge Strother.

The remaining 24 bikers were re-indicted on a riot charge.

"I do not believe that it is a proper exercise of my judgment as District Attorney to proceed with the further prosecution of what I believe to have been an ill-conceived path that this District Attorney’s Office was set upon almost four years ago by the prior District Attorney, and I do not believe that path should continue to be pursued," Johnson said.

SOURCE: KXXV

Hells Angels and Pagan's scare local police

Rochelle Park, N.J., (March 31, 2019) BTN — Police from several towns are patting themselves on the back after they defused a potential fight between a group of Hells Angels and Pagan's at the Bergen Harley Davidson store in Rochelle Park -- and cops say they expect more trouble in the future. A Hells Angels member was buying a motorcycle at the Essex Street shop on Saturday when a Pagan reportedly told him "this is Pagan territory," according to Rochelle Park police.

They began to argue, after which several members of each club showed up "to support their member," according to a police report. "The situation was de-escalated by a large police presence," the report said.

Rochelle Park police thanked their colleagues from Lodi, Maywood, Saddle Brook, the Bergen County Sheriff's Office and the Bergen County Regional SWAT team, who all responded.

"Intelligence obtained after the incident indicates tensions between the two motorcycle gangs [are] going to escalate," they added. "You're going to see a lot more incidents between these [two]," one officer said. "They're fighting for territory."

SOURCE: Daily Voice

No Colors Allowed

Albuquerque, N.M., USA (March 29, 2019) BTN — It's a bold sign: "a gang-free zone, wearing of 'colors' not permitted." It's hanging at the front entrance to Mariscos Altamar at Coors and I-40.
"It is shocking to see that," said Raymond Gallegos. The sign references "gangs," but the symbol represents what is referred to as the "one percenters," also known as bikers who give the community a bad name. "They watch one television show and we're almost all criminals," said Gallegos.

Sign posted on the entrance to Mariscos Altamar restaurant 

Raymond Gallegos is with the New Mexico Motorcyclists Rights Organization. He said the sign is meant to kick out bikers like himself wearing his cut. "What I'm wearing would be considered colors, it's an insignia that represents the club that I'm in," he said. The majority of bikers are in 'bike clubs,' not gangs, and are good people raising money for charities and helping those in need. "To say that we're all gang members, that's a very broad spectrum brush," said Gallegos.


He said this isn't the first time. Ojos Locos in Uptown confirms it has a sign inside too. The NMMRO sends out lists to its members, showing which establishments are "no colors welcome," including places like the Santa Ana Casino and the Cottonwood Mall. "I've been asked several times from managers or staff that they don't allow gang colors," he said.

Albuquerque Police Department records confirm that earlier this month officers were called to Mariscos Altamar for an incident involving a "biker gang," but no police report was ever filed. The manager would only say the owner told him to put up the sign on Friday.

"We all stick together and when we see a business that no longer supports us, we will no longer support them," said Gallegos.

Their Facebook page is below.

Mariscos Altamar

KRQE News 13 did reach out to both Mariscos Altamar and Ojos Locos. Neither would speak to us on camera or comment on why they put up their signs. Gallegos says signs like this are a civil rights violation under the first amendment, but he says it would cost thousands of dollars to take a case to civil court.

SOURCE: KRQE

Biker bar busted in gambling sting

McDonough, Georgia, USA (March 28, 2019) BTN — An investigation into alleged gambling activities landed one McDonough business owner behind bars Wednesday night.

The Georgia Bureau of Investigations’ Commercial Gambling Unit and McDonough Police, in cooperation with the Georgia Lottery Corporation and Georgia Department of Revenue, raided Motorheads, 650 Macon St., where they say cash poker tables and cash payouts on coin-operated amusement machines were going on. “There’s two separate sections of the establishment,” said GBI Special Agent in Charge Cindy Ledford, “so you have a bar, and then you have a room where you have poker, and you can come freely between the two, so it’s one establishment. They were actually in the middle of playing a poker game, so the tables were full, and then there were several people around the bar, as well.”

Traci McDonald, owner of the popular biker bar Motorheads, was arrested during a gambling raid late Wednesday night

In a press release, the GBI said “undercover agents were able to participate in the games, place bets, and win cash” over the course of a year-long investigation. Agents seized evidence and cash in the raid. In Georgia, it is illegal to pay out cash instead of credits on coin-operated amusement machines. The Georgia Lottery licenses those machines. The credits can be exchanged for Georgia Lottery tickets or for store merchandise, but not for cash. Ledford estimated “40 or 50” people were in Motorheads at the time.

Those who were gambling were cited by the McDonough Police Department. McDonough Police Chief Preston Dorsey said, “The citations were issued for disorderly conduct, ‘Any person who shall assemble or congregate with others and engage in or attempt to engage in unlawful gaming.’” Dorsey added that more arrests are pending and referred further questions to the GBI.

The owner, Traci McDonald, was arrested and charged with commercial gambling. As of press time, McDonald had bonded out of the Henry County Jail. McDonald’s bar has hosted several charity events in recent years.


The Henry Herald has learned that law enforcement is investigating alleged gang activity at Motorheads.
On March 10, McDonough Police responded to a battery call about a fight at Motorheads involving several people. According to a police report, Rebecca Leigh Harrup, 42, of Locust Grove and her daughter, Kourtney Ann Adams, 25, also of Locust Grove, were at the bar to celebrate Adams’ birthday.

Harrup told police they were outside when she heard someone yell “Rachel,” which she said “was her bar name.” When she answered, she said another woman said, “I wasn’t (expletive) talking to you.” A few minutes later, according to Harrup, the same woman said, “Are you going to eat these tater tots, Rachel?” Harrup told police she jokingly said, “Hell yeah, I want some.”

Then, she told police, a woman yelled at her that she was being disrespectful and needed to leave. Harrup said that when she tried to apologize, the altercation turned physical. Harrup told police a woman slammed her against the front window. A fight ensued, with a man holding Harrup’s arms above her head and two groups of people separately jumping both her and her daughter.

Harrup told police she pulled a pocket knife in self-defense. She said a man took her knife and she took it back, then went inside the bar, where employees rendered first aid. Harrup told police she used Facebook to identify several people who she says jumped her and her daughter, and that she had contacted McDonald about security video of the incident. “Ms. Harrup advised that Ms. McDonald does have the incident recorded on the video surveillance system,” according to the police report, and that Harrup “is requesting prosecution for all involved.”

Although the case was transferred to the Criminal Investigations Division earlier this month, Maj. Kyle Helgerson told the Herald, “The fight at Motorheads earlier this this month was determined to have gang implications.” Helgerson said the case was turned over to Henry County Sheriff’s Office Gang Investigators.
Meanwhile, Motorheads’ Facebook page shows that the band The Talking Monkeys is scheduled to play at 9 p.m. Friday night, adding, “The show must go on!”

SOURCE: Henry Herald