Posted on 08/29/2015 6:17:21 PM PDT by Elderberry
The Texas Court of Appeals has determined over the last week that officials had probable cause in only five of the 177 arrests following a shootout between two rival biker gangs and local, state and federal authorities outside of a Waco restaurant in May, with just over a dozen more cases set to be reviewed over the next two weeks.
Among those still facing charges are a Bandidos chaplain and a husband and wife. Officials also found probable cause against Bandidos members Marcus Pilkington, 36, and Reginald Weathers, 43, who ascertain they are “being illegally confined” and authorities lack sufficient evidence to prove they engaged in organized criminal activity the day of the shootout, the Waco Tribune-Herald reported.
Nine men were killed during the exchange of gunfire that day and another 20 were injured. Authorities confiscated more than 475 weapons, including 151 firearms. No innocent civilians or law enforcement were injured during the shootout.
The incident remains under investigation, which is headed by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, but a great deal of questions still remain, including who fired the fatal shots, which authorities have yet to disclose. However, Waco Police Chief Brent Stroman confirmed in June that a total of 12 rounds were fired by three Waco officers that day, leaving the remaining rounds at the hands of either the bikers or state and federal authorities.
At last count, 44 shell casings were recovered from the scene, including multiple .223 rounds, but ballistics evidence has not been made public at this time, despite the fact that autopsy reports were already released earlier this month, including vague descriptions of the injury-causing projectiles.
Weathers said the whole incident unfolded over a dispute about a parking space and a perceived act of disrespect, but while the melee initially involved the bikers, it’s unknown when authorities engaged.
According to Weathers, he and more than a dozen other members were outside of the Twin Peaks restaurant, while numerous members of the Cossacks, a rival biker gang, were near the patio area. A member of the Cossacks allegedly yelled at Bandidos club President David Martinez, saying he could not park in a particular space, but Weathers said he had not even pulled into the space at that point. Weathers, feeling his club president had been disrespected, then told the Cossacks member not to talk to his president that way, to which that member responded by punching Weathers in the face, he alleges.
Weathers said he covered his face in a defensive stance, but was soon pushed to the ground. Moments later, he heard gunshots, what he described as a “double tap.” Weathers was shot in the arm, but admitted that he did not know where the first shots came from because he was engaged in a fight with other bikers at the time.
Weathers said altogether the entire incident only lasted about four or five minutes.
Double overtime for the Cossacks who can't seem to even participate in a charity event without causing trouble.
Ferguson said the Lost Riders started walking through the crowd in threes and somehow encroached on the Cossacks’ area. The Lost Riders president was jumped, and the fight went to the ground. Ferguson said the main Cossack rider that was involved was pulled off by his buddies and shuffled away, hidden in the crowd.
Should have rounded them all up like in Waco
Other Cossack members continued to kick and stomp the Lost Riders president until law enforcement broke it up.
Did cops save lives and injuries here like in Waco?
Ferguson said the man had abrasions all over his body, but for the most part, his injuries appeared superficial. The Lost Riders were outnumbered in the crowd about five to one, according to Ferguson.
No comment
He said those involved declined to press charges, and no arrest was made because it was impossible to know who exactly started the altercation.
Put out pole cameras whenever rival gangs meet in public. I think they did in Waco.
“We’re going to take steps next year to make sure we keep those groups away from each other,” he said. “We’re already working on a plan to prevent this from happening again.”
How about BANNING the gangs!
“What did you post that got deleted?”
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I have no idea which (if any) post of mine was deleted. I simply know that my comments are now subject to review prior to posting and I can no longer send private replies. Happy with this, troll? With near certainty I know that either you or one of your fellow traveling BATF statist defenders complained yielding this result.
By the way troll, you’re now up to 74 posts ON THIS THREAD alone (through post 220).
““At some point, somewhere along the line, someone has lost sight of why the Toy Run was originally organized,” he said. “The fight was ridiculous, and this could potentially cause next year not be as successful because folks don’t want to be involved with that.””
WTH! Some people might not want to be involved with gangs? What is this world coming to?
“I have no idea which (if any) post of mine was deleted. “
Comment #133 Removed by Moderator. I ask because I replied to it in 135 and while I don’t remember what it was, I didn’t remember it to be worth pulling.
“I simply know that my comments are now subject to review prior to posting and I can no longer send private replies. Happy with this, troll? With near certainty I know that either you or one of your fellow traveling BATF statist defenders complained yielding this result.”
I have made one complaint to the mods. I don’t think it was yours. Some dude wrote a whole paragraph describing in detail deviant sexual acts in a personal attack on me. I didn’t complain about the attack, just hated to see such filth on FR. Apparently the mods agreed.
I know nothing about mods subjecting your posts to review and have never heard of removing private replies. But if so, it must be something you did to deserve it.
“By the way troll, you’re now up to 74 posts ON THIS THREAD alone (through post 220).”
LOL? The dude that is paranoid about mods out to get him is calling me the troll!
If people would quit calling me out, I would have far fewer.
In fact, I probably would not have posted on this thread at all except for all the gloating personal attacks on me by those celebrating a false victory BEFORE I even came to this thread.
“...I know nothing about mods subjecting your posts to review and have never heard of removing private replies. But if so, it must be something you did to deserve it.”
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I don’t believe you regarding your lack of knowledge.
And as to your statement “...it must be something you did to deserve it”...that mirrors YOUR attitude toward the bikers that were slaughtered by the BATF provocation operation gone bad. You are, IMHO, a despicable apologist for statist police oppression/MURDER of people YOU dislike. Troll on TG.
“And as to your statement “...it must be something you did to deserve it”...”
Are you implying that the mods for no reason at all are out to get you?
Look FloridaGator, you disgust me with your TROLLISH (and decidedly non FReeper-like) posts and I have absolutely NO desire to engage in repeated back and forths with you. So go troll someone else.
Especially when one of the gangs had badges.
Is there a flaw in that statement? Nope! Sure isn't. Nice try, but there is a significant difference between a factual statement and a conspiracy theory.
I made a factual statement. If it isn't, "in the absence of other ballistics data", prove me wrong.
Depending on who you ask, Red Boots is either one “Barnum” of the Waco PD (undercover drug specialty), or one “Schwartz” of Texas DPS.
It is very strange, too. Talk about provocation -- those guys being held in "secure facilities" (jail, detention, lock-down) for questioning had their wrists zip-tied (except when using the john) until the next morning. For ... what, exactly? To just answer some questions and go home, from what they'd been led to expect? Then prevented from home, work, obligations, bills, for two weeks at least on million dollar bail?
In a context where wallet chains are supposed to be dangerous weapons.
I just shake my head -- what would this story look like today if 60 youngish pissed off mostly law-abiding productive working American bikers with bills and families like anybody else, had understandably rioted at such mistreatment for zip? Why the need for wrist-ties? I don't know many people personally who could have stood that ordeal without going ballistic.
The whole thing is just ugly.
“Is there a flaw in that statement? Nope! Sure isn’t. Nice try, but there is a significant difference between a factual statement and a conspiracy theory. “
Your use of “could” makes it a conspiracy theory.
“The whole thing is just ugly.”
LOL! It was just a training exercise. Remember the operation the feds were running nationwide?
Nobody died at Waco. See the youtube videos ...
(check out the headshots at 13:15 in the first one.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-v2SLLGm5FQ
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1devHkhutF8
Where is the conspiracy?
(If anything which "could" occur is suddenly a Conspiracy Theory, then the statement that "Trump could be the next president." wouldn't be just a possibility, instead it would be a "conspiracy theory" by your definition.
Nice try, again.
“My use of “could” indicates that it is a very real possibility, in the absence of other ballistic data.
Where is the conspiracy?”
The conspiracy is that the cops ambushed the bikers. Your ‘fact’ is posted to give fuel to the fire.
“Where is the conspiracy?”
Best is at 13:15
ps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-v2SLLGm5FQ
If they did, then it was a conspiracy, just like you said.
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