FIGHT LEADS TO ARREST OF BIKERS
By Citizen Staff March 3, 2024
https://www.keysnews.com/news/fight-leads-to-arrest-of-bikers/article_02a68ee2-d99e-11ee-9ff3-47385ef29092.html
Monroe County Sheriff’s Office deputies arrested four members of two reportedly rival motorcycle gangs after an altercation at a Big Pine Key restaurant on Saturday.
Three members of the Pagan motorcycle gang and one member of the Outlaws were booked into jail after the altercation, which took place at the Boardwalk Grill at 12:30 p.m., according to Sheriff’s Office spokeswoman Becky Herrin
Deputies and detectives who responded said the Outlaw gang member Jeffery Jones, 49 of Key West, was in the bar wearing a T-shirt that clearly showed his affiliation, Herrin said. Three Pagan members, wearing gang clothing showing their affiliation with the rival club, showed up shortly after.
Derek Queen, 41 of Key West, stayed outside while Anthony Eliopulos, 55 of Ramrod Key, and David Mirth, 60 of Big Pine Key, walked in, reportedly confronted Jones and forcibly walked him outside, where a surveillance video showed them holding him against his will, Herrin said. They removed Jones’ Outlaw T-shirt and then pinned him between two vehicles. That is when deputies arrived on the scene, according to Herrin.
Queen had left the scene. All three men were detained for questioning, the two suspects in handcuffs. None of the men were cooperative with the investigation., Herrin said. Jones attempted to leave numerous times and was repeatedly warned to stay on the scene until deputies could complete their investigation. He continued to resist deputies’ efforts and, after 11 warnings, when he tried to walk away again, he was also handcuffed. Queen was also detained after he was later spotted driving by the scene. All three men were transported to jail, initially charged with resisting arrest and obstructing a criminal investigation, according to Herrin.
Detectives arrived and asked the manager of the bar for video surveillance of the incident to assist in their investigation. Management refused to release the video. With the help of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), a federal subpoena was obtained and the video was released, Herrin said.
Both of these motorcycle gangs are defined by the United States Department of Justice (DOJ) as Outlaw Motorcycle Gangs (OMGs).
“OMGs are organizations whose members use their motorcycle clubs as conduits for criminal enterprises. OMGs are highly structured criminal organizations whose members engage in criminal activities such as violent crime, weapons trafficking, and drug trafficking,” Herrin wrote.
After viewing the video and interviewing the victim, Eliopulos, Mirth and Queen were all further charged with kidnapping / false imprisonment and battery.
“We will not tolerate such groups operating here in Monroe County,” said Sheriff Rick Ramsay. “We will continue to make the investigation of gang-related crimes a priority and will not allow the members of such groups to interfere with the day-to-day lives of the peaceful and law-abiding citizens whom we serve.”
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