Massachusetts - Beverly, Biker charged with threatening officer

OFF THE WIRE
By Julie Manganis
Staff writer The Salem News
BEVERLY — A member of a notorious biker gang who was arrested Friday afternoon used his one phone call to order his girlfriend to "Call the clubhouse and bring all the boys down," police and prosecutors say.

Despite that and a litany of other threats toward police during and after his arrest, Miles Hale, 46, of 202 Manor Road, Beverly — a member of the Red Devils motorcycle gang — was released on $1,000 bail Friday evening by a bail clerk.

By yesterday, Hale was back in custody, after he showed up at Salem District Court for his arraignment and prosecutors asked a judge to increase Hale's bail.

Judge Matthew Nestor raised the bail to $5,000 and ordered Hale into custody after hearing the facts of the case from prosecutor Colleen Cashman.

Beverly police Detective Tom Nolan was working a construction detail at the intersection of Cabot and Beckford streets, in the Gloucester Crossing section of Beverly, around 2:30 p.m. Friday and had stopped a line of cars to let traffic pass the site from the other direction, Patrolman April Clarizia said.

Hale roared up on his bike and then decided to go around the line of stopped cars, Clarizia said.

Nolan ordered the bike to stop as it approached construction workers and knocked over traffic cones, Clarizia said.

Hale came within 4 feet of Nolan before coming to a stop, claiming that he didn't know he had to stop because the officer had his back toward him.

It took several requests for Hale to shut off the loud bike and lift his face mask.

Then, as Nolan called for backup, Hale began backing up himself, apparently intending to ride away, said Clarizia, a department spokeswoman.

Nolan grabbed Hale and took him to the ground.

With the assistance of Patrolman Darlene Prinz, Hale was put into custody. Police found a folding knife in Hale's front pocket and a bag of marijuana on him.

In the cruiser, Hale complained about Nolan, warning Prinz, "Next time I see him, I'm gonna take a shot at him. I'm gonna take him out. If he wants a fight, he's got a fight," according to the police report.

After his call, he was placed in a cell, where he continued his tirade, challenging officers to "come and get me."

While the rest of the "boys" didn't show up at the station, a man who identified himself as the "vice president" of the biker gang showed up to "take custody" of Hale's jacket, Clarizia said.

Hale is charged with threatening a police officer, threats to commit a crime, disorderly conduct, resisting arrest, failing to stop for police, violating the city knife ordinance and failing to use caution while driving, and also received a civil citation for the marijuana.

In addition to increasing Hale's bail, Nestor ordered Hale to have no contact with and stay away from Nolan, said Steve O'Connell, a spokesman for the district attorney's office.

Nestor's order prompted an outburst from Hale's girlfriend toward Nolan, who was in court yesterday for an unrelated case.

Hale is due back in court on Nov. 30.