Cops bust biker party

Off the Wire News
MCs in the News PORTAGE
Police from several law enforcement agencies raided a Portage warehouse after receiving a tip that a motorcycle club was operating an illegal clubhouse and was having a drug and alcohol party there.

Police said the man believed to be in charge of the clubhouse -- Joseph Hopper, 26, of South Haven -- faces charges, as do the other 38 people who were at the party.

Police said Hopper was arrested after it was learned he was wanted on a warrant for failure to appear in court. Police said Hopper identified himself as president of the MOB Squad motorcycle club -- the group that apparently advertised the party -- so he faces new charges of maintaining a common nuisance and selling alcohol without a permit.

Excise police said they received information that there had been illegal parties there -- with alcohol being sold and served without a permit -- on a regular basis.

Police said an 18-year-old girl at the party was issued a summons to appear in court on an underage drinking charge and the 37 other people at the party were issued summons to face allegations of visiting a common nuisance.

The raid occurred shortly after 12:30 a.m. Sunday at J&L Storage, 5675 Old Porter Road. Police said they received information about the party, and that underage drinking and drugs were involved. Police also were told there were stolen motorcycles, armed individuals and a wanted person.

Officers from Portage, Ogden Dunes, Burns Harbor, the Porter County Sheriff's Department and the Indiana State Excise Police arrived to find loud music coming from a large storage unit inside a pole barn on the property. Police said they entered to find a disc jockey booth and an alcohol bar inside, as well as couches, a television, a pool table and a bathroom. Police said there also were motorcycles in the warehouse, as well as two knives, a bag of marijuana, body armor and five guns. One of the guns was stolen and another was a rifle with a sawed-off stock.

Police said they also determined a motorcycle in the building had an obliterated vehicle identification number, so it was confiscated. Police said several people at the party were wearing leather vests with gang patches -- including Braveheart Ryderz, Wheels of Soul and MOB Squad -- sewn on them. Police said the entire storage unit had graffiti and gang-related art on the walls.

Original article...

http://nwitimes.com/news/local/porter/article_078e4398-af59-589f-878a-b7265ea35049.html