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CNN Live Today

Expert Discusses Biker Gangs

Aired May 03, 2002 - 10:16   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
LEON HARRIS, CNN ANCHOR: There is a new war under way in America, a biker gang war. Authorities say that deadly brawl last weekend outside Las Vegas was part of a turf war. Several motorcycle gangs are all joining forces against the Hells Angels.

For more on this feud, we are joined by Lt. Terry Katz. He is with the Maryland State Police, and he is a leading expert on biker gangs.

We thank you very much for your time this morning, Lieutenant.

First of all, I have to tell you, my first response when I saw that report last week was where did this come from? We haven't heard about this sort of thing for years.

LT. TERRY KATZ, MARYLAND STATE POLICE: What has occurred is that over the past five years, motorcycle gangs have expanded rapidly. And of course, law enforcement and other attention were directed more to street gangs. In that expansion, they have included growing by hundreds of members, both in the United States, Canada and around the world.

HARRIS: So what is it they are fighting over? I mean, I can understand the street gang. Their thing usually is turf. They are fighting over, you know, who can be on one side of town or another. What is it that biker gangs around the world would have to fight about?

KATZ: It's not that much different. It's that same macho behavior, but there is also -- these motorcycle gangs are organized crime groups. So they are fighting over drug control, extortion, robberies in certain areas, vehicle theft. But certainly, anytime that the two come into contact, there is that what would be a slight to you is a major insult to them.

HARRIS: Yes. Is it happening just in any one particular part of the country, like in the west, or is it something that is happening all over?

KATZ: No. We had an event two months ago where the pagans and East Coast gang were involved in a confrontation; 73 arrested of the pagans, shots fired, and now the event here in Laughlin. So it's a nationwide phenomenon. HARRIS: You know what? If I had to compare the numbers though, it doesn't seem as though these gang wars or these turf wars are going through are as deadly as the ones that we have seen from gangs like in L.A. and New York in years past.

KATZ: Well, you have to remember that motorcycle gangs are more sophisticated than street gangs, and because of that, they know that any time they come to major public attention, like in these shootouts, it is not good for their criminal business.

HARRIS: Yes. Well, they are going to be coming into at least some prominence coming up over the summer. As you know every year, there are these major gatherings of these motorcycle groups and clubs and gangs or whatever they want to call themselves, all around the country. I see them quite a bit on the East Coast at some of the resort areas. What are you expecting to see this summer?

KATZ: Well, in talking to the people that are going to handle these, they have handled these events in the past, but now have you to ratchet it up, because you can expect confrontations because of these previous violent episodes.

HARRIS: What is it that is causing this huge increase? As I understand the numbers right now, The Hells Angels club, just looking at one, they have got about double the membership they had just ten years ago. Why is that?

KATZ: Well, first of all, they have grown to about 2,200 members worldwide. They have 202 chapters. What has occurred is that they are now so large that they can take in real large gangs. So you can take in a gang that has a 100 or even 200 members, whereas before they were too big for to you take up.

HARRIS: So let me ask you this then, again getting back to the idea that these groups will be getting together quite a bit during the summer to have their celebrations at public places. Would you be advising people to check ahead to see whether or not there are going to be some group like this somewhere, anywhere near the beach they may be going to or any resort they may be going to, and then staying away, or what?

KATZ: No. Law enforcement is used to dealing with the 99 percent of people that are legitimate, ordinary motorcycle riders. Then there is what we call the one percent, and that's what these gangs call themselves. They will be monitored closely, but certainly common sense prevails. If you are around these people, trouble follows them.

HARRIS: Lieutenant Terry Katz, we thank you very much for the education this morning -- we appreciate it. Good luck to you.

KATZ: Thanks.

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