ST. GEORGE – Among the thousands of people who will be traveling to and through Southern Utah for Labor Day Weekend will be the Bandidos, members of an international motorcycle club who are heading to a rally in Duck Creek. Due to the club’s status as an outlaw biker gang, according to the FBI, and individual members having reputations for being involved in a myriad of criminal enterprises, law enforcement agencies across Southern Utah are preparing for the Bandidos’ arrival.
The Bandidos
“We are the people our parents warned us about” is the Bandidos slogan; and their mascot is a pot-bellied Mexican outlaw sporting a large sombrero and holding a pistol in one hand and a large machete in the other. They also wear patches marking them as part of the “one percenters.” The one-percenter patch is also associated with other outlaw motorcycle clubs such as the Hell’s Angels and Pagans.
The phrase “one-percenter” caught on in the wake of the Hollistor Riot that took place in Hollister, Calif., in 1947. A large motorcycle rally was held in the town and a small faction of the attendees caused a commotion. Though the incident was relatively minor, sensationalized media coverage helped spur negative opinions towards motorcyclists and led the American Motorcyclist to say that 99 percent of riders are law-abiding citizens, while the “one percent” are the troublemakers. The term has since been embraced by outlaw biker lifestyle.
The actual Bandidos Motorcycle Club was formed on March 4, 1966, in San Leon, Texas, by Vietnam War veteran and marine Donald Eugene Chambers. He also made the club’s colors red and gold in homage to the U.S. Marine Corps. Chambers was convicted of murdering two drug dealers in 1972, though he was eventually paroled in 1983.
Since the club’s founding, facets of the membership have been involved in various illegal activity such as drug trafficking, prostitution, and murder.
The Bandidos have chapters throughout the United States and Canada, Europe, Asia, and Australia. In Utah, there is a known chapter in Tooele County, and a relatively young chapter in the St. George area, according to the St. George Police.
Local law enforcement prepares – just in case
Law enforcement was made aware of the pending rally from Cedar Mountain residents, Sgt. Alan Alldredge of the Kane County Sheriff’s Office said, and has prepared accordingly.
Over the Labor Day weekend, Alldredge said as many as 10,000 to 20,000 people may descend on Iron and Kane counties. It is estimated that 800-1,500 of them will be Bandidos attending the club’s rally in the Duck Creek area.
“They’ll be here for the whole weekend,” Alldredge said, “we don’t anticipate any problems; they’re not here to cause trouble.”
Just in case some sort of mayhem is triggered by the Bandidos’ presence, additional law enforcement will be brought in from the surrounding counties.
Aldredge said the Iron County Sheriff’s Office and Cedar City Police Department were paying close attention to the rally as well, and would already be out in force due to a busy holiday weekend.
Recently the Cedar City Police issued a press release addressing the Bandidos’ pending arrival:
The rally will take place in Kane County but many of the Bandidos members may choose to visit and lodge in Cedar City …. Individual members of the Bandidos Motorcycle Club have a history reflecting criminal conduct. While this may hold true for some members, it should not be a stereotype placed on all club members.
The Cedar City Police Department would like to reassure local residents who may feel intimidated by the numbers or presence of motorcycle club members that public safety and order will be maintained and criminal conduct will not be tolerated. Citizens need to be aware that the Cedar City Police Department has taken necessary steps to ensure public safety during the Labor Day weekend.
The St. George Police Department and Washington County Sheriff’s Office will be involved in watching the Bandidos as well, said St. George Police Sgt. Johnny Heppler, supervisor of the Fraudulent Identity and Securities Threats Unit.
As far as St. George is concerned, Heppler said, “we have no reason to believe they’ll be settling in this area at all.”
Like Alldredge, Heppler said he didn’t expect there there was going to be much trouble, despite the club’s reputation. Still, he said people who wear the one-percenter patch have chosen to associate themselves with an outlaw lifestyle.
If things do somehow get out of hand, Heppler said St. George Police and other agencies are prepared.
“We are very well trained on how to clear large crowds,” he said.
Arizona Highway Patrol Sgt. John Bottoms said a few of the Bandidos will be heading into Utah through Arizona, though not necessarily by way of Interstate 15 through St. George. Those coming from Texas will most likely pass through northeastern Arizona and make stopovers in places like Page and Kaibab, Arizona, on their way to the rally.
“They’re just trying to get from point A to point B,” Bottoms said.
The Kane County Sheriff’s Office has been in contact with individuals in charge of the rally, Aldredge said, and have been told the Bandidos aren’t looking to cause any problems. If there is any trouble caused by a club member, Alldredge said the matter may end up being dealt with internally.
“They’ll police their own,” Aldredge said.
In 2008, about 500 Bandidos rode into Moab for an annual conference. As reported by the Moab Times-Independent, the gathering was largely uneventful. Local business owners even called club members “well-behaved.”
County and city law enforcement had prepared for the gathering by bringing in additional police, as well as federal agents, to help keep the peace. Moab Police Chief Jim Nivarre credited the added and visible presence of law enforcement as one of the reasons why the weekend conference concluded without much trouble.
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Twitter: @MoriKessler
Copyright St. George News, StGeorgeUtah.com Inc., 2013, all rights reserved
These guys are known to have a deep-seated dislike for any and all law enforcement. I would not recommend they be taken lightly.
Police protection? We don’t need no stinkin police protection. Know why the Iron Horsemen or Hell’s Angels never got a grip in the South? They got shot right off their bikes whenever they tried to rid in n that makes a heck of a mess. That was a while ago, but the ability is the same now. We don’t need protected. Plus, what’re all those grey-haired middle aged playboys going to do? Eat all the chili at the Chilifest? Watch out! They might even help grandma get her cat out of the tree! lol. The police have nothing better to do than ‘prepare’ to take people’s money, that’s it. If it’s fun, it’s outlawed and will cost you. Quit trying to scare everybody into thinking we need protection.
Hmmm…slow news day Mori?
Don’t kid yourselves. The Bandidos are a criminal organization. The police are trying to put a nice spin on it, but anyone that has had any contact with an outlaw biker club knows that they obey the law when it suits their needs. They are trying to expand their criminal enterprise to St. George. Standby and watch the drug, prostitution, and violent crime rise. There is no good thing about an outlaw biker gang. They are trying to get a foothold in Utah. The Vagos already have a presence here. Criminals, thugs, dopers, and ego centric, violent individuals that will kill you or your family if they feel it is necessary to further their criminal enterprise.
You are an idiot! Bandidos have been in Utah for 10 years!
(I thought St. George ENCOURAGED tour groups to stop here and spend their money?)
I had members of the Bandidos attend a car show I put on. They where very well behaved,better than some of the locals. Just because you have a beard,long hair,tratoos and ride a motorcycle does not make you a bad guy.
Nice job on the research, Mori.
Great insight Mike James! As an “outsider” (not local to Southern Utah, but having lived in the area for almost 20yrs) it’s crazy to me that some locals put so much “faith” in appearances. Jo Knows that “they” are trying to setup a criminal organization in Southern Utah? What about those who are born and raised here trying to benefit off the hard work and faith of their neighbors? How many multi-level pyramid schemes have you been invited to participate in? How many Ponzi schemes have Utah roots? The FBI has an office in Utah dedicated to all the scams that we have to offer. Not to mention all the locals who are tied to meth and heroin distribution. Jo apparently doesn’t know diddly…
Apparently this gathering is part of a yearly national convention which is held in various places each year. This year they happened to pick Duck Creek. Chances are it’s an innocent random location for them to do what ever it is they do at these events. However, due to the enormous amount of Heroin, Meth and other drugs that pass through (and stay in) this area, there may be some talk about them getting in on the money to be made with that drug trade. I’m sure there are agencies that are tracking this situation that have much more knowledge about them than we do. Hopefully all the Vegas and Utah folks who are spending Labor Day weekend on the mountain can enjoy themselves without incident and without being initiated into their gang.