Friday, October 29, 2010

Texas, Bar owners say patrons were not involved in fight

OFF THE WIRE
BY: Chris Paschenko
Source: galvestondailynews.com
GALVESTON — A downtown Galveston bar owner on Tuesday disputed police assertions that a gang-related fight in the street involved patrons of his upscale dance club.

Galveston police blamed the Bandidos, known to the FBI as an outlaw motorcycle gang, for assaulting in the street three men, who police said drank early Sunday evening at Boomba Bar, 2410 The Strand.

The men, who wore Los Viejos clothing, declined to press charges, even though one man suffered a serious cut on the head. There were no witnesses to the fight, police said.

Allen Flores, owner of Boomba Bar, said he spoke to his bartender and manager on duty that evening.

“None of the fight participants ever entered my establishment,” Flores said.

Diane Flores Cowart, Flores’ sister, owns Crow’s Cantina, 2408 The Strand. She also denies any of those involved in the fight entered her bar.

“They were not drinking at either of our places,” Cowart said. “Maybe the argument started somewhere else.”

Police didn’t know where the Bandidos first confronted the men, but the victims attempted to leave to avoid an altercation.

The victims’ motorcycles were parked across the street, which is where the fight erupted, police said.