Big, scary biker gang riding into town this weekend
The Bandidos Motorcycle Club is a prominent outlaw biker gang that is possibly engaged in turf wars with other outlaw biker gangs in the region. This weekend, Bandidos is holding its 2014 national rally, which is expected to draw roughly 2,000 members from about 20 states, in Grain Valley.
A little unnerving, but could be good for businesses in the area, at least, right? Nope. According to the Kansas City Business Journal, two of the biggest drinking establishments in Grain Valley — Charley’s Roadhouse and Badlands Country Nightclub — have elected to close down for Labor Day weekend in anticipation of the trouble Bandidos could potentially bring.
What kind of trouble? From Texas Monthly (Bandidos formed in Texas in the 1960s):
In the past couple of years alone, police around the country have arrested Bandidos for everything from drug dealing and kidnapping to possession of illegal weapons and trafficking in stolen vehicles. Bandidos have been accused of threatening people who were preparing to testify against them in court and of beating and even shooting any member of rival motorcycle clubs who has either not shown them the proper respect or attempted to invade one of their territories.
Law enforcement — the Missouri Highway Patrol, Jackson County Sheriff’s Department and the Grain Valley and Blue Springs police departments — are beefing up staffing in anticipation. Stay safe, Grain Valley!
