OFF THE WIRE
http://www.daytondailynews.com/news/crime/motorcycle-club-searched-for-possible-illegal-activity-954220.html Motorcycle club searched for possible illegal activity.
By Kelli Wynn and Doug Page, Staff Writers Updated 6:26 AM Friday, October 1, 2010 DAYTON — The headquarters of the Bad To The Bone Motorcycle Club, 2400 West Third St., has been condemned, according to Max Fuller, the city of Dayton’s Housing Inspection manager.
The action came as the Dayton Police SWAT unit and officers with the department’s narcotics unit served a search warrant at the club around 5:15 p.m. Wednesday.
Lt. Matt Carper, head of the narcotics unit, said citizen complaints of drug and illegal liquor sales led to an investigation that uncovered enough evidence to convince a judge to issue the search warrant.
“We called out SWAT because the entry met the high-risk criteria because of previous violence,” Carper said. That previous violence was the June 13 slaying of Jesse Chandler, 43, of Trotwood in the club’s parking lot in front of 200 witnesses, none of whom has come forward. Some of the witnesses were club members.
City inspectors discovered that the club’s headquarters consists of at least four rental units. Because of that, the property must have a hard-wired smoke alarm system, which it did not have when inspectors arrived with police, Fuller said. Other violations included no functioning bathroom or kitchen.
“(Club members) shouldn’t be occupying it until repairs are made and permits are inspected and approved,” Fuller said.
Sgt. Gary White, head of the homicide unit, said detectives have received numerous anonymous phone calls from individuals identifying Chandler’s killer. However, these witnesses are not willing to have their names used in the case.
“We are very confident that we know who killed Mr. Chandler. Among the many interviews we have conducted, we feel confident that we have interviewed the suspect,” White said. “We can’t prosecute the case on anonymous tips.”
Detectives don’t know if the shooter is a member of the club but believe that the shooter has some affiliation with the club, White said. He went on to say Chandler’s homicide highlights a “common scenario” that occurs when police investigate homicides — witnesses not willing to cooperate.
“We still are hoping that the right people will do the right thing,” White said. “Everybody knows by now that the case is stalled, and it’s stalled due to the lack of witness participation.”
At the time of the shooting, Lt. Brian Johns said police have had few problems at the club. Those problems included street racing or noise complaints, but no violence.
“It’s not on last month’s nuisance list,” Fuller said of the club location. He added that his office has not had any formal complaints about the club property
The West Third address is owned by Larry Mobley, the club’s local president. He purchased the property, which is listed as rental units, in 2008 for approximately $16,600, according to Montgomery County real estate records. As of Thursday, Mobley was delinquent in property taxes by approximately $1,900.
Narcotics Lt. Carper said the evidence gathered Wednesday likely will lead to charges against Mobley, including not have a liquor permit. One person was arrested at the scene for an outstanding warrant, and 13 people were issued nuisance notice, ordering them to stay off the property.
The club’s web site — www.badtothebonemc.com — says that the club “works to promote the safe and exciting sport of motorcycling through support and hosting of various charitable and community events.”