GRAIN VALLEY, Mo. — Law enforcement knows the Bandidos Motorcycle Club all too well.
Its considered to be one of the most infamous motorcycle gangs in the United States. Hundreds of bikers will get together at a racetrack off Old 40 Highway over the Labor Day weekend.
Police expect as many as 2,000 members of the Bandidos to gather at Valley Speedway in eastern Jackson County.
Police agencies are on guard this weekend, since the FBI has labeled the Bandidos as being “an outlaw gang.” Published reports from the past decade show Bandidos members as being linked to various violent and drug-related crimes.
The presence of the gang has Rosalind Richter’s attention. She spearheads the town’s neighborhood watch page on Facebook, which has grown to 1,200 users in less than two months.
Richter says she was unsure until she met with Jeremiah Britt, who is an active Bandidos member, and hails from the metro.
“He’s assured us they’re just here to have a good time, and they’re here to have a rally, and that’s what they’re looking for,” Richter said. “They have family. They hold jobs the same as we do.”
Club members started arriving on Thursday morning, and very soon, police will arrive too. Sergeant Colin Stosberg with the Missouri Highway Patrol says local police agencies will work together to make sure the party doesn’t get out of hand.
“We’re going to be there and monitoring the rally,” Sgt. Stosberg said. “We don’t anticipate there will be any problems. We’ve talked with the organizers of the event, and we’re working closely with them.”
Sgt. Stosberg says residents in Grain Valley should be ready for a crowd this weekend. That sounds promising to Zach Pross with the local chamber of commerce, who says his city of 1,200 can use the business, so long as the peace is kept.
FOX 4 News also spoke with Britt off-camera, who assured me if the public respects the members of his organization, they’ll repay the same courtesy.
Zach Pross with the Grain Valley Chamber says hotels in the area are booked up for the weekend. Sgt. Stosberg advises citizens not to be intimidated by the bikers, and to call police if they see trouble.
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