Biker Sues Waco, McLennan County, Alleges Unconstitutional Arrest, Detention

[Seamus_L]

Sandra “Drama” Lynch, of Mart, is well-known among local bikers for organizing charity concerts for cancer patients, rescuing dogs and fighting for motorcycle-friendly legislation.
In fact, she reserved the patio for Sunday’s meeting of a regional bikers’ rights coalition at Twin Peaks restaurant.
Now Lynch, 53, is in the McLennan County Jail on $1 million bond, along with her husband, Mike Lynch, 62, a plumber. The arrest warrants say the Lynches were part of organized criminal activity that led to the Twin Peaks shootout that left nine bikers dead. wacotrib.com/news/twin-peaks-biker-shooting/friends-family-claim-some-arrested-bikers-shouldn-t-be-jailed/article_08d7101a-7794-546e-a718-58e3c3a71e91.html
This is why I continue to be suspicious of the actions of the police at Twin Peaks.

 

[InigoMontoya]

The majority of bikers arrested at Twin Peaks had no police records, and there were several groups there who could not be considered ‘outlaw’ bikers in anyway. These included, Marine and Vietnam Veterans clubs and even an Evangelical Christian biker group called “Honor Bound”.

From what I heard that was all true. However, for the clubs which can’t be considered ‘outlaw’ bikers, they did choose to associate with them by participating in a Confederacy of Clubs meeting. Which knowingly places them at risk of being caught up or brought into the trouble that stems from active associations with outlaw bike gangs.

 

[didymus]

Investigators have found more than 300 weapons — including an AK-47 — at the scene of the Texas biker war in which nine gang members died, police said Wednesday.

So far.

Waco police Sgt. Patrick Swanton said Wednesday that the Twin Peaks restaurant, where at least five biker gangs threw down Sunday in an apocalyptic battle, was littered with hundreds of weapons — having found 318 “and still counting.”

The breakdown as of Wednesday evening:

1 AK-47 assault-style rifle
118 handguns
157 knives
43 other weapons, primarily clubs, brass knuckles and chains with padlocks to be used as bludgeons
Various body armor

“We do expect the numbers to continue to rise,” Swanton said.

nbcnews.com/news/us-news/…-scene-n362331

How many of these weapons were illegal to own/carry? Texas is a gun-friendly state so I suspect the problems if any will be with the AK, the brass knuckles, and the body armor.

Back to the topic at hand, arresting 170 people without individual probable cause. I think it would be easy to separate the ones who were armed (more likely bad guys) from the ones who weren’t.
%between%

 

[Seamus_L]

I think the biggest question right now is, Why haven’t charges been dropped against those who were caught up in a police dragnet for allegedly being in the wrong place at the wrong time. It’s been over 2 weeks now.

 

[JimR-OCDS]

didymus

How many of these weapons were illegal to own/carry? Texas is a gun-friendly state so I suspect the problems if any will be with the AK, the brass knuckles, and the body armor.

And the mindset of those present who thought it’s necessary to have all these weapons explains the explosive situation from the get-go.

Back to the topic at hand, arresting 170 people without individual probable cause. I think it would be easy to separate the ones who were armed (more likely bad guys) from the ones who weren’t.

What’s you’re experience in arresting people in a large violent mob ?

It’s not easy to identify who were the bad guys and who were just innocent bystanders.

Jim

 

[Seamus_L]

According to some people who were there, it was more like a small violent mob. Blaming all bikers at Twin Peaks for the actions of a minority would be like calling the Baltimore police department a criminal organization because of the 6 officers being charged in the death of Freddie Gray.

 

[JimR-OCDS]

According to some people who were there, it was more like a small violent mob. Blaming all bikers at Twin Peaks for the actions of a minority would be like calling the Baltimore police department a criminal organization because of the 6 officers being charged in the death of Freddie Gray.

Blaming the cops for taking control of a violent mob is a bigger issue.

Had they failed to do so, they would’ve been responsible for all the harm that resulted.

Jim

 

[Seamus_L]

I don’t think that’s the issue here. What a growing number of people want to know is, why are several people with no police records, who are not members of outlaw motorcycle clubs being charged ?

 

[JimR-OCDS]

I don’t think that’s the issue here. What a growing number of people want to know is, why are several people with no police records, who are not members of outlaw motorcycle clubs being charged ?

They’re not being charged.

They were arrested and went before a judge to see if they would be charged.

Many have were released and all charges dropped.

Jim

 

[styrgwillidar]

They’re not being charged.

They were arrested and went before a judge to see if they would be charged.

Many have were released and all charges dropped.

Jim

From an article this morning
msn.com/en-us/news/crime/what-waco-police-still-wont-reveal-about-the-biker-gang-shootout/ar-BBkFNkP?ocid=iehp

Still, “more than 150 bikers are still being held in jail weeks after the shooting,” the San Antonio Express Newsreports. “At least 114 of those remaining in jail have been charged with engaging in organized criminal activity, according to online jail records. Many are being held on $1 million bonds. At least 25 have bonded out in the more than two weeks since being processed, but more are expected to be released on lower bonds.”
Little wonder: holding upwards of 160 bikers on a blanket bond of $1 million was self-evidently excessive. An attorney for one of the arrestees has filed a complaint against the justice of the peace who set the bond, the Waco Tribunereports, alleging that he “violated several judicial ethical canons,” including by telling the local newspaper, “I think it is important to send a message. We had nine people killed in our community. These people just came in, and most of them were from out of town.”

The attorney, Clinton Broden, said that it is unlawful to set bond in order to “send a message” and alleged that law enforcement chose the justice of the peace to set bond “because of his lack of legal training and his willingness to ignore the requirements that each case be given individual consideration.” He also alleged an improper refusal to set probably [sic] cause hearings for some of the bikers until August 6.

…’

 

[JimR-OCDS]

From an article this morning
msn.com/en-us/news/crime/what-waco-police-still-wont-reveal-about-the-biker-gang-shootout/ar-BBkFNkP?ocid=iehp

Still, “more than 150 bikers are still being held in jail weeks after the shooting,” the San Antonio Express Newsreports. “At least 114 of those remaining in jail have been charged with engaging in organized criminal activity, according to online jail records. Many are being held on $1 million bonds. At least 25 have bonded out in the more than two weeks since being processed, but more are expected to be released on lower bonds.”
Little wonder: holding upwards of 160 bikers on a blanket bond of $1 million was self-evidently excessive. An attorney for one of the arrestees has filed a complaint against the justice of the peace who set the bond, the Waco Tribunereports, alleging that he “violated several judicial ethical canons,” including by telling the local newspaper, “I think it is important to send a message. We had nine people killed in our community. These people just came in, and most of them were from out of town.”

The attorney, Clinton Broden, said that it is unlawful to set bond in order to “send a message” and alleged that law enforcement chose the justice of the peace to set bond “because of his lack of legal training and his willingness to ignore the requirements that each case be given individual consideration.” He also alleged an improper refusal to set probably [sic] cause hearings for some of the bikers until August 6.

…’

Over 170 were arrested.

Those without violations have been released.

Remember, 9 people were killed.

This was not just a friendly get together.

 

[Seamus_L]

Correct me if I’m wrong, but I haven’t seen anything about charges being dropped, only bond reductions.

 

[JimR-OCDS]

Correct me if I’m wrong, but I haven’t seen anything about charges being dropped, only bond reductions.

You replied to my post about charges being dropped.

Sorry if I got confused about what the purpose of your post was for.

Jim

 

[philipl]

I think the biggest question right now is, Why haven’t charges been dropped against those who were caught up in a police dragnet for allegedly being in the wrong place at the wrong time. It’s been over 2 weeks now.

Because they associated themselves with thugs. These people deserved to go to jail. They showed up knowing full well what might happen. The police were there trying to stop violence. Inncoent people could have died because a bunch of thugs showed up.

 

[styrgwillidar]

Over 170 were arrested.

Those without violations have been released.

Remember, 9 people were killed.

This was not just a friendly get together.

~25 folks have been released, 114 have been charged, leaving a number in limbo.

Yes, folks were killed but no word as to who killed who.

The purpose of the get together was a friendly political gathering over motorcycle safety issues and legislation being considered by the Texas legislature. That’s the actual advertised purpose of the gathering as posted on the overall coordinating organization’s site and several of the attending clubs sites as well. Why it turned violent isn’t clearly known- many unverifiable claims with competing stories.

There are a lot of rumors flying around about what occurred, and I’m trying to avoid those competing unverified claims. We do know that the police’s initial accounts claiming the fight started inside conflict with what reporters have stated is on the security video from inside the restaurant.

 

[JimR-OCDS]

~25 folks have been released, 114 have been charged, leaving a number in limbo.

Yes, folks were killed but no word as to who killed who.

The purpose of the get together was a friendly political gathering over motorcycle safety issues and legislation being considered by the Texas legislature. That’s the actual advertised purpose of the gathering as posted on the overall coordinating organization’s site and several of the attending clubs sites as well. Why it turned violent isn’t clearly known- many unverifiable claims with competing stories.

There are a lot of rumors flying around about what occurred, and I’m trying to avoid those competing unverified claims. We do know that the police’s initial accounts claiming the fight started inside conflict with what reporters have stated is on the security video from inside the restaurant.

The Bandidos and Cossacks were just having a friendly get together ?

Gee, I hate to see what they do with they get together for a fight.

Jim

 

[styrgwillidar]

The Bandidos and Cossacks were just having a friendly get together ?

Gee, I hate to see what they do with they get together for a fight.

Jim

The organization which set up the meeting consisted of a number of clubs, hence why there were pastors, military vets, etc. etc. IT was not a meeting set up or sponsored by the Bandidos or Cossacks and there are competing stories as to whether either or both of those groups were invited or ‘crashed’ the party.

Trying to avoid rumors, I’m focusing on what is known and what there is evidence for, and the evidence shows that the purpose of the meeting was political- discussion of Texas motorcycle legislation.

ETA: here’s the groups website, which appears to focus on legislation/safety at all levels-local/state/fed. They have a calendar posting regional meetings, which is how the Twin Peaks gathering was categorized.

txcocinews.org/state-and-local.html

 

[Path_Finder]

The organization which set up the meeting consisted of a number of clubs, hence why there were pastors, military vets, etc. etc. IT was not a meeting set up or sponsored by the Bandidos or Cossacks and there are competing stories as to whether either or both of those groups were invited or ‘crashed’ the party.

Trying to avoid rumors, I’m focusing on what is known and what there is evidence for, and the evidence shows that the purpose of the meeting was political- discussion of Texas motorcycle legislation.

ETA: here’s the groups website, which appears to focus on legislation/safety at all levels-local/state/fed. They have a calendar posting regional meetings, which is how the Twin Peaks gathering was categorized.

txcocinews.org/state-and-local.html

Rivals often meet, peace talks, even those Bloods and Crips have met or should we forget about the 12 families meeting as in the Godfather movies. That really has happened even if some of those families apparently were rivals.

 

[styrgwillidar]

Rivals often meet, peace talks, even those Bloods and Crips have met or should we forget about the 12 families meeting as in the Godfather movies. That really has happened even if some of those families apparently were rivals.

? My problem is the media and their complete lack of due diligence in reporting. Initial characterizations of this that I heard was that it was a meeting of outlaw gangs to hash out there issues. Even a modicum of research indicated that wasn’t true-- and it’s colored the public perception from the start. But hey, a shootout at an “Outlaw Motorcycle Club” peace meeting is better clickbait for advertising than a regular meeting of a Motorcycle political action organization was disrupted by a violent incident in the parking lot outside.

Given the TX CCOI regularly holds these regional meetings and has done so in region one for 20 years, it would be interesting to know

• what clubs are part of that organization? (note the Christian Motorcycle groups have numerous meeting and ride announcements on the calendar)
• Are there ‘Outlaw’ clubs that are members?
• Do they regularly attend these meetings?
• Are any of the TX CCO&I region officers members of ‘Outlaw’ clubs?
• Are there any records of disputes/fights/disorderly conduct etc. at any of these regional meetings? (… of course the TX CCO&I folks say there haven’t been but…)

All kinds of rumors about the incident and the police response with reporters hurrying to get stuff in print based on spokesman soundbites with no verification.

Here’s an example of something recently-- an article about legislation with a quote from the congressman proposing it. The reporter dutifully quotes the representative without, obviously, reading the text of the bill and noting it directly contradicts what the representative says about ‘fair market value’. Nothing in the text refers to ‘fair market value’-only a set amount for a turn in. A reporter can’t spend 10 minutes reading the subject of the article-just quote whoever’s talking with no research…

thehill.com/video/in-the-news/240981-dem-pitches-tax-break-for-turning-in-assault-rifles

 

[Seamus_L]

Here’s a copy of a Writ of Habeas Corpus filed on behalf of Jimmy Pond by Austin Attorney Adam Reposa thetruthaboutguns.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/RECUSE-WACO.pdf It’s definitely worth reading.