Reading Eagle
Police officers from across Berks County swarmed to Classic Harley-Davidson in Bern Township on Sunday to stop an argument between two motorcycle gangs from escalating into a 100-person brawl, investigators said.
Initial reports indicated that a fight was starting inside the dealership at 983 James Drive, possibly involving baseball bats.
But the two groups backed off before the argument turned physical, police said. Officers were called about 12:15 p.m., and the bikers cleared out by 1 p.m., authorities said.
No one was charged or injured.
The area around the dealership was teeming with state troopers and police from all over the county. The bikers stood in groups as officers walked around, some with shotguns drawn.
A manager at Classic Harley-Davidson declined to comment.
Bern police gave this account:
Officers were called for reports of a fight starting between the two gangs, which totaled about 100 riders. The dispute did not turn into a fight. Police were not sure what the disagreement was about or how it started.
A total of about 30 to 40 police officers and state troopers responded.
Police declined to identify the gangs. However, several bikers were wearing jackets emblazoned with "Wheels of Soul," a Philadelphia-based gang.
http://readingeagle.com/article.aspx?id=362301
Contact Liam Migdail-Smith: 610-371-5022 or lsmith@readingeagle.com.
Initial reports indicated that a fight was starting inside the dealership at 983 James Drive, possibly involving baseball bats.
But the two groups backed off before the argument turned physical, police said. Officers were called about 12:15 p.m., and the bikers cleared out by 1 p.m., authorities said.
No one was charged or injured.
The area around the dealership was teeming with state troopers and police from all over the county. The bikers stood in groups as officers walked around, some with shotguns drawn.
A manager at Classic Harley-Davidson declined to comment.
Bern police gave this account:
Officers were called for reports of a fight starting between the two gangs, which totaled about 100 riders. The dispute did not turn into a fight. Police were not sure what the disagreement was about or how it started.
A total of about 30 to 40 police officers and state troopers responded.
Police declined to identify the gangs. However, several bikers were wearing jackets emblazoned with "Wheels of Soul," a Philadelphia-based gang.
http://readingeagle.com/article.aspx?id=362301
Contact Liam Migdail-Smith: 610-371-5022 or lsmith@readingeagle.com.