Bikers arrested for fight with rivals
Six alleged members of the Hells Angels and Desert Road Riders motorcycle clubs were arrested early Wednesday in connection with a June fight at a Bullhead City bar.
Clifford Balentine, 54, of Bullhead City; Stephen Michael Helland, 60, of Golden Valley; James Snider, 45, of Kingman; and Dale Leroy Hormuth, 49, of Kingman were arrested around 6:30 a.m. at their homes, Arizona Department of Public Safety spokesman Robert Bailey said.
Rudolfo John Martinez, 41, and Gerald Roy Smith, 47, both of Rimrock, also were arrested at their place of business. Martinez was arrested in Chino Valley and Smith was arrested in Camp Verde. Police officers also are looking for a seventh man, George Edward Walters, 53, formerly of Kingman.
The seven suspects were allegedly involved in a fight June 11 at Lazy Harry's Sunshine Saloon in Bullhead City between members of the Hells Angels and their allies, the Desert Road Riders, and the Vagos Motorcycle Club, Bailey said.
All six suspects will face felony charges in Mohave County. The four Mohave County residents were booked into county jail. Martinez and Smith will be brought to the county to face charges. The six were charged with felony riot. Other charges may be forthcoming, including participating in a criminal street gang, Bailey said.
Bullhead City Police Chief Rodney Head said at a Wednesday press conference that there are about two dozen Vagos members and about a half dozen Hells Angels in Mohave County. There also are less than two dozen Desert Road Riders.
Kingman Police Chief Bob Devries said his department does not have a problem with bikers who wear colors on their patches but his officers will come after those who wear their colors and participate in criminal activities.
Members of a motorcycle club confederation, including the two clubs, recently held a rally in Kingman against a no-colors policy initiated by several Kingman bars. KPD also have investigated reports of assaults and stabbings in Kingman.
A multi-agency task force including Bullhead City, Kingman, Lake Havasu City and Flagstaff police officers, the Mohave and Coconino County sheriff's office and officers from the DPS Gang Intelligence Enforcement Mission took part in the six-month investigation.
The power struggle between the Hells Angels and Desert Road Riders and the Vagos Motorcycle Club in northwestern Arizona led officers to serve warrants on the seven members in Mohave, Yavapai and Coconino counties.
Source: Bikers arrested for fight with rivals
Clifford Balentine, 54, of Bullhead City; Stephen Michael Helland, 60, of Golden Valley; James Snider, 45, of Kingman; and Dale Leroy Hormuth, 49, of Kingman were arrested around 6:30 a.m. at their homes, Arizona Department of Public Safety spokesman Robert Bailey said.
Rudolfo John Martinez, 41, and Gerald Roy Smith, 47, both of Rimrock, also were arrested at their place of business. Martinez was arrested in Chino Valley and Smith was arrested in Camp Verde. Police officers also are looking for a seventh man, George Edward Walters, 53, formerly of Kingman.
The seven suspects were allegedly involved in a fight June 11 at Lazy Harry's Sunshine Saloon in Bullhead City between members of the Hells Angels and their allies, the Desert Road Riders, and the Vagos Motorcycle Club, Bailey said.
All six suspects will face felony charges in Mohave County. The four Mohave County residents were booked into county jail. Martinez and Smith will be brought to the county to face charges. The six were charged with felony riot. Other charges may be forthcoming, including participating in a criminal street gang, Bailey said.
Bullhead City Police Chief Rodney Head said at a Wednesday press conference that there are about two dozen Vagos members and about a half dozen Hells Angels in Mohave County. There also are less than two dozen Desert Road Riders.
Kingman Police Chief Bob Devries said his department does not have a problem with bikers who wear colors on their patches but his officers will come after those who wear their colors and participate in criminal activities.
Members of a motorcycle club confederation, including the two clubs, recently held a rally in Kingman against a no-colors policy initiated by several Kingman bars. KPD also have investigated reports of assaults and stabbings in Kingman.
A multi-agency task force including Bullhead City, Kingman, Lake Havasu City and Flagstaff police officers, the Mohave and Coconino County sheriff's office and officers from the DPS Gang Intelligence Enforcement Mission took part in the six-month investigation.
The power struggle between the Hells Angels and Desert Road Riders and the Vagos Motorcycle Club in northwestern Arizona led officers to serve warrants on the seven members in Mohave, Yavapai and Coconino counties.
Source: Bikers arrested for fight with rivals
