Hells Assholes

Once again, it's been awhile. As usual, work is the culprit.

Recently part of that work was spending a week and a half in Sturgis, SD. working the Black Hills Rally. A pretty cool detail. Every year in August the city of Sturgis swells from just 6000+ to around 500,000. Not all at once, but considering that they are primarily concentrated walking around a 6 block stretch of Main Street, it makes the place pretty crowded. It also makes it a very interesting place to work as a cop.

The Sturgis PD brings in police officers from surrounding area to work the event to bolster their man-power. I've tried the past two years but something always got in the way. This year it worked out and now I'm on a list that will get recalled as long as I want the work. Sweet. The pay isn't great but it isn't shitty either, overtime piles up pretty qquick in the second week.

For the most part this years rally was peaceful with very few bumps in the carpet. Most of those bumps were caused by  the gaggle of dipshits that call themsleves Hell's Angels.

Whatever side of the "outlaw biker" community you stand on is your business. Idolize who you want. But, if you choose to idolize a bunch of cocksuckers who choose to make a business out of bullying people and being involved in organized criminal activity then I would like to make a suggestion, go drink a gallon of bleach.

I grew up in an area of Texas where another OMG called the Bandidos had a strong community presence. As a kid about the only thing i knew about them was that they every now and then had a toy-run or some kind of menial community service stunt. later, I learned that they also made a habit of informing on rival OMGs to the local law enforcement agencies in order to keep their area clear of competition.

Nobel they ain't.

I've read quite a few periodicals about OMGs and have really been too interested. like any other organized crime group they participate in smuggling, extortion, racketering, drugs, stolen property, theft, whatever makes them a dishonest buck to pay for their beer, meth and smokes.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not underestimating their resourcefullnes. The Hell's Angels specifically are very good at what they do, they've made a big business out of their organization and have very influential people from their group in a lot of different areas. It would surprise some of you to know exactly how wide spread they are. They aren't a bunch of stupid grease monkeys either. They have degreed professionals among their ranks. Attorneys, Doctors, Corporate Executives, Bankers, all kinds of highly educated people whose main focus is to secure and maintain their business. They have the intellect to make a legitimate business out of their organization which makes what they are even more distressing. They CHOOSE to be douchebags who make a living off of victimization and exploitation.

Hell, they even give Congress a run for their money in that regard.

While working the rally I got a little more exposure and insight into them and I am very dissapointed. I was kind of hoping that they would be more than a bunch of assholes that were only capable of using group tactics to intimidate and brutalize people. Unfortunately, that's about all they were. They made a habit out of cruizing into one of the bars in a little mass and pushing people around. To further advertise their intent every one of them carries a knife prominently displayed on their waste (It's legal in South Dakota). Every so often they would pick a fight or just ambush some poor hapless bastard and pound the shit out of him.

The first guy was just walking by their hangout. If you walk towards the parking lots in the outlying areas and you have to go up 3rd Street you can't really help it. This guy was walking by and one of the HA said something to the effect of, "Weren't you that guy hitting on my date?". the guy replied with something to the tune of, "Dude, I don't even fuckin' know you". He was grabbed, dragged into their parking area and beat on by three or four of the HA. This guy was on the small side too probably 5'7" or so, maybe weighed 160 or 170. We know this because a video tape was turned in by tourists who filmed the attack from a nearby vender. After beating him, one of the HA stomped on his head, bouncing it off of the concrete while he lay their unconsious. They then dragged him up the sidewalk and left him there.

They have a slogan that's on some of their t-shirts, "Strength, Honor and Loyalty". I'm surprised they can spell the words much less say them with a straight face. What they did during the rally had nothing to do with honor. More like cowardice and cruelty.

One of their victims was a barmaid at one of the other bars who had retorted to them when they were being crude towards her. Yep, that's honorable all right. They didn't just hit her either, they beat the shit out of her.

For the most part the HA were nothing more than a pack of dogs wondering around looking for an excuse to bite somebody for whatever trumped up reason they could come up with. Probably the only time they beat somebody who may have earned it was some drunk was pissing on one of their trucks. that guy would have gotten the same response from just about anybody.

Well, the air got let out of their ballon on early saturday morning on August 10th. At about 1am they wondered into the Loud American Roadhouse and were doing their usual bit of pushing people around and trying to intimidate everybody. While they were pushing around a group of women who were trying to make their way to the bathroom the HA got a bit of their own medicine. Another group called the Iron Pigs (a social motorcycle club comprised mostly of cops and firemen) apparently walked over and basically told them they could go fuck themselves. The HA outnumbered them so naturally they jumped the group. One of the Iron Pigs was getting worked over pretty good when one of the two pounding on him pulled the knife he carried. The off-duty cop pulled a handgun and shot the HA.

Their are different versions of exactly how the shooting went down depending on where the witnesses were standing. I didn't see it, I was about two blocks away on foot patrol when it happened and ran there when the shots fired call went out. Most of what I do know is information that was being freely spoken of by the people who were in the bar. The investigators with Sturgis PD are being professional about it and keeping the exact details and whatever evidence they have collected confidential for now until they are done investigating.

Initial reports are that the cop was most likely justified in drawing a weapon and firing considering the percieved threat. You pull a knife on me, I'm going to shoot you. It's that simple.

However it went down, I can't say I'm crying over it.

The HA didn't die, I'm glad he didn't. even if he is a dick head he's still a person and he most likely has family and friends who care about him. I know that the other HA that were there looked honestly concerned for him and didn't cause any more issues that night. But, you poke enough things with a stick and sooner or later something will poke back. This case it was somebody carrying a firearm who didn't feel like being cut on or stabbed. Surprise, surprise.

For the last day of the rally they were fairly quiet. The HA no longer went in groups displaying colors unless they were going to a friendlier bar. When they did go they behaved themselves. Aside from the dumbass that pissed on a truck, nobody else got screwed with.

At least we know some of them can learn.