Texas, Bandidos blamed in fight outside isle bar

OFF THE WIRE
By Chris Paschenko
The Daily News
Published October 26, 2010

An assault believed to be gang-related left three men injured, including one seriously, outside a downtown island bar, authorities said Monday.

The three men arrived about 6:30 p.m. Sunday at Boomba bar, 2410 The Strand, Galveston police said.

“They pulled up on motorcycles wearing another motorcycle club emblem,” police Sgt. Mark Pilsner said. “They were jumped by six to eight members of the Bandidos, who were drinking at the bar.”

Police received a call about a large disturbance and arrived, finding one of the three men suffering from a cut to the head.

That man, 47, of Galveston, was taken by ambulance to the University of Texas Medical Branch for treatment of injuries that weren’t life-threatening.

The two others — a 52-year-old La Marque resident and a man, 53, from Galveston — declined medical treatment.

“There were no witnesses, and all three refused to press charges,” Pilsner said.

The injured men didn’t know the people who attacked them but said they were members of the Bandidos, police said.

The FBI lists Bandidos as an outlaw motorcycle gang. Last year, 28 defendants reported to belong to the gang were indicted in Lubbock on accusations they operated a methamphetamine trafficking ring in West Texas, Arizona and Modesto, Calif.