Waco – Police gunfire marred the peace and dignity of bikers observing the second anniversary of the blood bath at Twin Peaks Restaurant at the McLennan County Courthouse.
Activist and investigative social media journalist Paula Carroll Swann said the entire biker community is particular that people understand “We (motorcycle enthusiasts) had nothing to do with it.”
In the minutes prior to a scheduled rally on the north steps of the building, Sheriff’s Office SWAT Officers emerged from the annex building that houses the corrections department and pursued a black man who was said to have a knife. He came from an area to the west of the Courthouse office building at the corner of Columbus Ave. and Fifth St.
Small arms fire broke out.
“We didn’t see the knife,” she said, as her companions echoed her skepticism. “We didn’t see any blood. We don’t understand why the cops had to go and shoot at that man that way.”
According to Matthew Barnes, a Second Amendment rights activist, motorcycle enthusiast and jury nullification proponent, the snipers had arrived earlier in unmarked vehicles, entered the building through the sallyport in the alley between the courthouse and the old jail building with their rifle cases and equipment, and took up positions in the second floor room overlooking the lawn and the courthouse steps, behind industrial windows propped open.
“There were four of them. Two spotters and two shooters.”
Thus, their field of fire was flanking the spectators and speakers at the sparsely attended memorial service.
Sons of Liberty Riders Motorcycle Club President and Legislative Strike Force operative Mel Moss said, “They flooded the street from all directions when the deputy began to chase the man with the knife. They came from buildings all down through there.”
Clearly, the police set-up resembled the L-shaped ambush established on the day of May 17, 2015 when the so-called “melee” that left 9 dead, 20 wounded and 177 persons jailed for weeks broke out.
“Why did they find it necessary to train their rifles on us?” asked a man dressed in motorcycle garb, who declined to give his name. His sentiment was heartily seconded by dozens of persons standing near the courthouse steps, all of whom insisted they could see past the glare of the windows to perceive the shooters inside the building wielding AR-15-style assault rifles.
Security Chief L. McGee declined comment on how the shooter teams are employed. “I don’t know. They have nothing to do with my operation. I have my guys I’m in command of outside here on the grounds, and that’s it.”
Experienced operators said they identified the officers as Sheriff’s Office members and that they carried standard tactical shotguns in their pursuit of the suspect. “I’m pretty sure they shot the rubber projecticles,” said one man, who requested anonymity.
Confederation of Clubs activist Sandra Lynch said her attorneys have freed her to talk about certain aspects of the case for which she was arrested along with her husband Mike and other members of Los Pirados Motorcycle Club.
“I reserved the patio,” she says in a sardonic tone of voice. “That’s all I did.” The task was performed as a function of the Confederation of Clubs, for an update meeting on activity during the legislative session of the time on May 17, 2015. Those arrested spent 12 hours in zip tie handcuffs, during which time they could not get a drink of water or visit the toilet without help.
One man said, “They put a hamburger in my lap, and me sitting there with my hands cuffed behind my back.” Most folks arrested spent a minimum of three weeks in jail, many lost jobs, and most lost their motorcycles in cases of foreclosure or civil forfeiture. The bond strictures under which they were released called for their complete silence about the case, and they have only recently been released from those controls.
In a Facebook post, she stated earlier today, “We know what happened.”
“We didn’t even see an argument,” said Ms. Lynch. Others in her party agreed. “We mainly saw people hassling in line to get a beer,” she added.
Asked if she were at liberty to say what happened, what would she say, Ms. Lynch answered, without hesitation, “We were set up.It wouldn’t have worked without the Cossacks. They (police, DPS) were after the Bandidos, but they wouldn’t have been able to do it without the Cossacks,” a motorcycle club.
Most mentioned the name of Owen “Big O” Reed, a Cossacks member they believe operated as an agent provocateur for police and “motorcycle gang experts.”
“…As the bikers slowly filtered in, prior to the start of the event there were shots fired by law enforcement. The officers engaged at a jogging pace foot pursuit after what appeared to be a mentally challenged young black man. The pursuit started in the parking lot of the department of motor vehicles that was barricaded off for the bikers parking. The mentally challenged man was followed closely by officers with guns pulled out onto 5th st from Columbus street beside the motor vehicles building. As he entered 5th street he turned and headed North. Immediately, six men in military tactical clothing with M-16s appeared from the west side of 5th street at Columbus, and four shots rang out. It didn’t appear that the suspect was struck by the gunfire and a sheriff’s officer approached the suspect and slammed him to the ground. The six military clad gunmen disappeared as quickly as they had appeared.
“What is the mindset of Waco law enforcement to have full military tactical men in hiding observing a peaceful demonstration through scopes on high-powered weapons?”
