PALM SPRINGS — Up to 500 members of the Mongols motorcycle club were in town Friday through Sunday for their annual national meeting or “run,” police confirmed Sunday.
Official numbers had not been released Sunday night, but one source said the Mongols’ visit generated only several arrests.
The visit prompted heavier police presence on the streets of downtown Palm Springs. Club members hung out mostly at the Hilton Palm Springs hotel on East Tahquitz Canyon Way and the Spa Resort Casino on East Amado Road, and other places nearby, according to Sgt. Erik Larson of the Palm Springs Police Department.
The bikers arrived in the Coachella Valley on Friday afternoon and left late Sunday morning, he said.
Though he didn’t have specifics on how many additional police officers were on duty over the weekend, Larson said the Palm Springs Police Department prepares for the biker’s arrival each year.
“Basically they are a gang, so we look to see if they are breaking any laws when they come into town,” Larson said. “They like to carry weapons like all gang members do.”
William Hutchinson, president of the Palm Springs Police Officers’ Association, confirmed in a Facebook post that several Mongol arrests were made over the weekend.
“We arrested several this weekend for gun and other dangerous weapons possession charges,” Hutchinson said.
“We bring in plenty of law enforcement personnel to keep the community safe and to have a large presence so the Mongols are aware we have plenty of resources to deal with any problems they choose to bring.”
Palm Springs police spokesman Sgt. Harvey Reed said he would provide more information to The Desert Sun today.
Sgt. Steve Kong of the California Highway Patrol in Indio said the CHP had five extra officers on duty per day from Friday night through Sunday morning.
One officer worked the morning shift during that time, while four officers worked a 12-hour night shift beginning at 6 p.m.
Kong said the Indio CHP office made no arrests and did not issue any citations.
The Mongols Nation Motorcycle Club is an international biker club, with chapters in Australia, Mexico, Thailand and Germany.
It has 14 chapters throughout the U.S. and a strong presence in Southern California, where the club originated in 1969.
http://www.mydesert.com/article/20130714/NEWS08/307140018/Mongols-motorcycle-club-run-prompts-police-presence-Palm-Springs
Official numbers had not been released Sunday night, but one source said the Mongols’ visit generated only several arrests.
The visit prompted heavier police presence on the streets of downtown Palm Springs. Club members hung out mostly at the Hilton Palm Springs hotel on East Tahquitz Canyon Way and the Spa Resort Casino on East Amado Road, and other places nearby, according to Sgt. Erik Larson of the Palm Springs Police Department.
The bikers arrived in the Coachella Valley on Friday afternoon and left late Sunday morning, he said.
Though he didn’t have specifics on how many additional police officers were on duty over the weekend, Larson said the Palm Springs Police Department prepares for the biker’s arrival each year.
“Basically they are a gang, so we look to see if they are breaking any laws when they come into town,” Larson said. “They like to carry weapons like all gang members do.”
William Hutchinson, president of the Palm Springs Police Officers’ Association, confirmed in a Facebook post that several Mongol arrests were made over the weekend.
“We arrested several this weekend for gun and other dangerous weapons possession charges,” Hutchinson said.
“We bring in plenty of law enforcement personnel to keep the community safe and to have a large presence so the Mongols are aware we have plenty of resources to deal with any problems they choose to bring.”
Palm Springs police spokesman Sgt. Harvey Reed said he would provide more information to The Desert Sun today.
Sgt. Steve Kong of the California Highway Patrol in Indio said the CHP had five extra officers on duty per day from Friday night through Sunday morning.
One officer worked the morning shift during that time, while four officers worked a 12-hour night shift beginning at 6 p.m.
Kong said the Indio CHP office made no arrests and did not issue any citations.
The Mongols Nation Motorcycle Club is an international biker club, with chapters in Australia, Mexico, Thailand and Germany.
It has 14 chapters throughout the U.S. and a strong presence in Southern California, where the club originated in 1969.
http://www.mydesert.com/article/20130714/NEWS08/307140018/Mongols-motorcycle-club-run-prompts-police-presence-Palm-Springs