Biker Brawl: Dozens of squad cars respond to melee

Area police broke up a large fight Saturday between rival motorcycle gangs at the St. Joseph County 4-H Fairgrounds.

Dozens of people, some wielding weapons, were involved in the melee that erupted shortly after noon, police said. The bikers, including those wearing "Outlaw" and "Hells Angels" gang jackets from Chicago, Detroit and Indianapolis, were attending a motorcycle swap meet.

More than 30 police cars from South Bend, St. Joseph County and Mishawaka responded to the scene. Two bikers suffered injuries that required medical attention but were not life-threatening, said St. Joseph County police spokeswoman Jaimee Thirion.

A county officer, Cpl. Kent Wickham, suffered minor injuries in a traffic accident on his way to the fairgrounds, Thirion said.

After bringing the disturbance under control, police canceled the remainder of the event and ordered those attending to leave.

No arrests were made, police said.

Dan Hardman, who with his wife had set up a booth to sell parts, described a chaotic scene.

"They were using bats, (motorcycle) forks, hammers on each other, with no regard for anyone around them, even children," said Hardman, who saw an 8-month-old child in the booth next to his.

Hardman, a member of a Christian biker ministry called Bikers at the Crossing, said most of the time, biking is a peaceful "family thing."

This turned out to be anything but. He said a police account that only two people were injured was "baloney."

"They were using fenders on top of heads, it was horrible," he said.

Witness Bob Candler, of Niles, agreed.

"It was pretty ugly," said Candler. "I seen a guy getting hit in the head with a hammer, he kept waling on him."

Hardman voiced sharp criticism for the security at the event and its promoters, Paragon Promotions of Portage, Mich.

"You don't allow colors to mix," Hardman said, referring to the fact that rival gang members were allowed to wear their gang symbols. "There should have been a lot more security. There were two (security guards), and they ran like girls."

Paragon Promotions officials did not return a call seeking comment Saturday.

An employee of Freedom Cycle Inc., 6210 U.S. 31 South, who declined to give his name, said the Michiana area has long been the "turf" of three gangs: the Hells Angels, Iron Cats and Devils Diciples. The gangs might have considered it poor "etiquette" when the Outlaws showed up without having first cleared it with the gangs.

"It was the Angels and the Outlaws in the same place, period. That's all you need to know," said the employee, who did not attend the event but heard about it from people who did. "It's a club mentality, like one baseball team against another, or just like two high schools. There's been an ongoing dispute between the two clubs forever."

Candler said the Outlaws should have been arrested. He found it odd that so many, at least 75, would come all the way from Indianapolis just for a small swap meet.

"They were not there for a good time," Candler said. "I think they were there looking for trouble."

Dan Brouillette, of Goshen, said he arrived shortly after police and was never allowed in. He had hoped to trade a motorcycle for some parts.

He arrived to see men attempting to leave the fairgrounds on their motorcycles, only to be detained by police officers pointing shotguns at them, Brouillete said.

"The next thing I know it's a giant episode of 'Cops,' " he said. "It's the most excitement I've seen in a long time, so I'm glad I came out."

But Candler was less flippant.

"It was sickening," he said, recalling how a young woman turned to him and his girlfriend as the fighting broke out. "She was pretty frightened. She said, 'Don't leave me.' "

Staff writer Jeff Parrott: jparrott@sbtinfo.com (574) 235-6320

OK for a pack of numb skulls they acted civilly

A mind is a terrible thing to waste!!!

41 posted on 04/03/2006 2:44:05 PM PDT by RVN Airplane Driver (Most Americans are so spoiled with freedom they have no idea what it takes to earn and keep it.)

The thing was most these guys were north of 50 and by 10:00 were nowhere to be seen. I think they did some drinking during the day and then went to bed.

The college kids had a lot more staying power.

I ran into a group of Galloping Goose a couple of years back. They were north of 60 and looked like Keith Richards' Grandpa on a bad day.

43 posted on 04/03/2006 2:56:19 PM PDT by Hi Heels (Don't you wish there were a knob on the computer to turn up the intelligence?)

You seem to know more than the average bear,as the saying goes.They hung out for quite a while until they decided we were 'worthy',and then made an offer we couldn't refuse.I was not like a lot of the other guys.I would have thought nothing of blowing their asses to bits if they needed it.And knowing myself,I wouldn't stop till everyone and everything stopped moving.Sad to say,I learned who the wimps were in our club.Some were the so called,self anointed tough guys.I lived with some real tough men in the service,and a lot of them would eat these guys for breakfast.I saw way more than I needed to with the HA.Not my cup of tea.

Amen, brother. Bullies with Bikes. That's all it is. Sometimes STONED bullies with bikes. or DRUNK bullies with bikes. Worthless nonetheless.

45 posted on 04/04/2006 8:03:18 AM PDT by Hi Heels (Don't you wish there were a knob on the computer to turn up the intelligence?)

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