Motorcycle club reacts to raid

Off the Wire
MCs in the News

ESCANABA - Portrayed by television fare as being lawless, drug trafficking organizations, many motorcycle clubs and their members across the country are just the opposite, members of a local motorcycle club say.

Members of the Rebels Motorcycle Club said they want to set the record straight, and quiet speculation circulating throughout the community. The Rebels' clubhouse on Stephenson Avenue was raided and searched by police earlier this week as part of a drug sting.

"We have been in Escanaba at our present location for the past five years, and until recently we have never had a problem with the police," said Rodney Frye, a member of the Rebels M.C. of Michigan.

The Rebels Motorcycle Club in Michigan was founded around 1970 and has been a presence in the Delta County area for approximately the past 40 years.

Many of the members of the club are family-oriented people who hold down steady, full-time jobs, and they share a love of motorcycles and the freedom such machines offer, according to Frye.

Frye and his "brothers" said they operate a private, family-oriented club, and look to give back to the community.

"The term Rebels stands for, Righteous Enthusiastic Bikers Educating Legislature and Society," said Frye. "We are not now, nor have we ever been, affiliated with the Outlaws Motorcycle Club."

Monday, the Rebels clubhouse at 320 Stephenson Ave., was raided by the Upper Peninsula Substance Enforcement Team (UPSET) and other law enforcement agencies.

A dozen agencies assisted UPSET in conducting five searches at two Escanaba homes, one Gladstone residence, and a Wells home, in addition to the local motorcycle club.

The searches resulted in the arrests of three Delta County males, who were lodged in jail on state and federal charges relating to drugs and firearms, said Jeff Racine, commander of UPSET.

One man was arraigned in Delta County District Court. George Arthur Creller, 48, of Wells, was officially charged with two counts of controlled substance - delivery/manufacturing non-narcotic schedules 1 and 2, said a court official.

In a phone call with the Daily Press, Frye said Creller is a Rebels member, but was acting on his own. No one was in the clubhouse at the time of the raid, and Creller was arrested elsewhere.

According to an affidavit authorizing a search warrant of the premises, law enforcement officials were to be allowed to search for and seize: "any and all substances suspected of being in violation of the Michigan Public Health Code, specifically, but not limited to, cocaine; any substances used in the sale and or processing of cocaine; all U.S. currency and or negotiable items suspected of being connected to the manufacturing, use and/or trafficking of controlled substances."

The search warrant also authorized police to search for and seize any and all documents, records, pictures, U.S. currency, and financial records suspected of being connected to the Rebels Motorcycle Club, its members and associates, or any other motorcycle gang/club. It also called for the search and seizure of any clothing items suspected of being connected to or showing membership to the Rebels M.C. or any other motorcycle gang/club.

During a search of the clubhouse, according to Frye and other club members, law enforcement officials "trashed the facility."

"They (law enforcement) forced their way into the building by driving their truck through the back wall, they just missed hitting two 20-pound propane tanks we use for heating during the winter months," said Frye.

He said law enforcement officials used emergency extraction equipment (Jaws of Life) to enter a safe, taking tickets and money from the sale of tickets for the upcoming Rockin' on Bay event in Gladstone.

In addition to cash in the safe, Frye said a ledger, noting members donations and bar tabs was taken, along with articles of clothing bearing the clubs "colors" and logo.

"The wife of one of our members who was selling the tickets sought their return, with the request being denied," said Frye.

Also taken was the club's license and insurance documents, in addition to a document believed to be the Rebels' oath.

One reason for the search, said Frye, is due to the stereotyping of motorcycle clubs in general.

He added 99 percent of all motorcycle clubs and their members are law abiding, hard-working individuals. However there is the remaining 1 percent which are engaged in illegal activities, such as drug trafficking, extortion, and murder for hire.

"The Rebels M.C. of Michigan, does not condone the use of drugs or drug trafficking. This recent incident has put a black mark on our club and our members, which is not deserved," said Frye.

He added that during the search of the clubhouse, he requested an opportunity to read the search warrant, saying his request was denied by a law enforcement official.

"This whole search by law enforcement officials outside of the local authorities was overkill," said Frye. "The manner in which it was conducted has not only affected us as a group, but the entire community."

He added he and his "brothers" would be cleaning up the mess left during the search of the premises, and would possibly seek a new location for their clubhouse due to insinuations allegedly made by law enforcement officials to the owner of the building, including confiscation and forfeiture of property if the Rebels were not evicted.

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