The Crested Butte News Serving the Gunnison Valley since 1999
Overall, less than one contact an hour during the week
A Hells Angel who was arrested during the U.S.A. Run through Gunnison a month ago has been indicted by a federal grand jury in Denver and could face 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
Richard E. West, 44, of New York was indicted last week and is a reputed vice president of the motorcycle club. He is facing a federal gun charge, according to the Justice Department.
West was arrested July 28 on U.S. 50 during the motorcycle rally in Gunnison. He was with a group of 15 to 20 bikers who were wearing Hells Angel “colors,” according to the indictment against him. At milepost 195, law enforcement encountered 15 to 20 motorcycles. The motorcycles were partially driving eastbound in the westbound lane. According to a Justice Department press release, one male rider who had a “vice president” patch on his jacket was contacted. West had a loaded Model Bulldog Pug 44-caliber revolver tucked in his waistband, prosecutors allege. West has a 2004 felony conviction in New York for criminal possession of a loaded firearm. As a felon, he is prohibited from carrying a gun.
West is being held in federal custody without bond.
“This guy was caught in the mix of the week,” said Gunnison County sheriff Rick Murdie. “There was a similar arrest by Pueblo law enforcement of a guy on his way here to Gunnison. Most of these guys, contrary to what people think, carry guns and knives. We normally don’t get 500 visitors coming here on vacation that are armed. People don’t understand who these guys are.
“A lot of these members were involved in a shoot-out with another motorcycle club in Arizona last week,” Murdie continued. “These are not nice people. We were doing our job and overall I’m happy with the outcome. We weren’t 100 percent perfect but I congratulate all the officers that were here. The thing that amazed me was that there was only one other Hells Angel arrested during their time here.”
“Thanks to thorough law enforcement planning, and the excellent work of a coalition of law enforcement agencies, a convicted felon with a loaded firearm was arrested and taken off the streets of Colorado,” said U.S. Attorney John Walsh in the Justice Department press release.
Overall, during the week of the Hells Angels visit from July 25 to August 1, 24 citations were issued and 91 warnings given out through the lead law enforcement agency for the event, the Gunnison Police Department. According to police captain Chris Wilson, some of the contacts in those numbers were for locals. “There were 20 citations issued to the Hells Angels and most of those were at the beginning of the week. They tested us and we responded and the tone was set. It slowed down by the middle of the week.
“Having 115 contacts in a week might seem like a ton in a small community,” Wilson continued. “Especially during those times when a lot of motorcycles with Hells Angels would be stopped along the road with a lot of police officers. But with 120 officers that came in to help, 20 citations were issued to Hells Angels. It comes down to less than 16 a day or less than one an hour.”
And it probably won’t be the last time we see the Hells Angels, according to Murdie and Wilson. The motorcycle club likes it in the Gunnison Valley.
“Ironically, when I talked to a couple Hells Angels, they talked about how nice the place was and how they felt safe and comfortable here,” said Wilson. “They said they’d be back in six or eight years.”
