OFF THE WIRE
John James ParkerFLORENCE, S.C. --
An 18-year-old Florence man was arrested early Sunday morning after a fight broke out between members of two motorcycle gxxgs at a local nightclub.
Florence Police Maj. Carlos Raines said officers were called around 2 a.m. Sunday to Out of Bounds at 507 S. Irby St. in reference to a fight in progress between members of the Warlocks and the Red Devils – two area motorcycle groups.
“Witnesses told the officers that a dispute broke out between the two motorcycle gxxgs and that one of the Warlocks began swinging a knife around in the air,” Raines said. “At that point, the witness said, a member of the Red Devils pulled out a handgun and pointed at the Warlock who was waving the knife around.”
At some point, the witness said, the man with the gun handed the gun off to another Red Devil, who put it in a case on his motorcycle. Police questioned the man who supposedly hid the gun – a semi-automatic handgun with the serial number filed off -- and recovered it from his bike.
They then questioned the man witnesses identified as the gunman. While placing him under arrest, officers asked him if he had any other weapons on him. He admitted to having a gun in his boot and two knives. Police recovered the knives and a loaded .357 Revolver from his boot. Officers also found a small glass vial of what appeared to be cocaine, Raines said.
John James Parker, 18, of 3225 Lakeshore Drive in Florence, was taken into custody on two counts of unlawful carrying of a pistol, one count of pointing and presenting a firearm at a person, one count of possession of a firearm with obliterated serial number and one count of possession of less than one gram of cocaine.
Raines said an initial records check indicates the gun police recovered from Parker’s boot was stolen. The investigation continues.
Nobody was injured during the incident.
Parker remains in custody at the Florence County Detention Center in Effingham on a $30,000 surety bond, according to jail records.
http://www2.scnow.com/news/2012/jul/02/florence-man-arrested-motorcycle-gang-brawl-ar-4074566/
