Bikers rumble into town

Eric Leake

Friday, April 22, 2005 | 11:04 a.m.

LAUGHLIN -- Wearing slacks and a collared shirt, Steve Burns stood out in a crowd of bare arms and leather vests.

"I like the atmosphere," said Burns, 68, as he sipped a beer and browsed biker gear at the annual Laughlin River Run Thursday afternoon.

Burns works in his family's construction business in Phoenix. He does not ride a motorcycle but has attended the rally for years.

"What I like about them is they're all good folks," Burns said of the bikers. "I've never had any problems."

The River Run -- now in its 23rd year -- kicked off Thursday and continues through the weekend, drawing tens of thousands of motorcycle enthusiasts to this riverside gambling town for shows, vendors and riding.

The River Run attained some notoriety after a melee and gunfight between the Hells Angels and Mongols motorcycle gangs ended three lives in 2002.

Forty-two Hells Angels were indicted on charges related to the fight. Both Hells Angels and Mongols members are still awaiting trials for their involvement.

Two weeks ago the federal trial of the Hells Angels was postponed until July to allow more time for the analysis of DNA and surveillance tape evidence.

Gino Sciarra, 45, attended the rally when the fight occurred. He said he saw gang members running through the casino.

Sciarra is from Huntington Beach, Calif., and said the fight is something people still talk about but is not a concern.

"I came out the very next year," he said. "You haven't seen a single incident since."

There was an obvious security presence at the rally Thursday. Police officers patrolled on motorcycle, horseback, foot, and in cars. Hotel security roamed parking lots.

"We've stepped up precautions after what happened," said Metro Police Sgt. Chris Jones, a spokesman for the department.

He said the last couple of years have there have been relatively few arrests and those were for mostly minor violations.

As of 6 p.m. Thursday, police had made 18 arrests -- three for drunken driving, one for possession of a stolen vehicle and 13 for miscellaneous misdemeanors. They issued 80 traffic citations and recovered two stolen motorcycles. No motorcycles or other vehicles had been reported stolen, police said.

Metro is the lead agency working the rally with others including some from Arizona and California as well as hotel security, Jones said. He would not say exactly how many officers are patrolling the rally.

"We have a large contingency of officers down here. People are going to see Metro Police in uniform. We want that," Jones said. "Then we have what they don't see, too, and that's important."

No glass bottles or cans are allowed in the town's main drag, Casino Drive, during the rally. A 6 p.m. curfew for people younger than 17 is in place. Many hotels have signs prohibiting people from wearing gang colors or emblems.

Jones said police are also enforcing Nevada's helmet law and are particularly watching for drunken drivers and bike theft.

He said police understand that the vast majority of the people who attend the rally are just good people looking to have a good time.

Derrel Sherwood, 40, is a police officer from San Jose, Calif., and a motorcycle enthusiast.

"The only people that an increased police presence is going to bother are people doing what they shouldn't do," Sherwood said.

Sherwood attended with friend and fellow police officer Richard Greg, 50, as any other motorcycle enthusiast would.

"A group of us like to ride. It's a good excuse to get out and go," Sherwood said. "For me it's just about hanging with my buddies."

Greg said the police presence acts as a safeguard.

"It keeps a lid on things. It could get crazy," he said.

Greg said it is only the small percentage of people who cause problems at motorcycle rallies. Most, he said, are more professional than outlaw.

Those the Sun spoke with Thursday included Boeing engineers, police officers, a banker, and a business owner.

Police anticipated around 70,000 people, possibly more, to attend this year's River Run.

The Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority said that 25,725 of the visitors to last year's event were not locals and that they spent a total of $30 million in Laughlin.

"They're great tourists. Most of these people are professionals who are on the job every day who kick back and enjoy their motorcycles on the weekend and come down to have a good time," said Laughlin Town Manager Jackie Brady.

"There's a lot of people in town. You hear 'vroom, vroom' all day long," she said.

Andre Carrier is the River Run event chair and president of the Golden Nugget in Laughlin. He said hotels are completely booked and have been for months.

Carrier said the River Run is one of the three largest motorcycle rallies in the country and the largest in the West.

"It's also really important for the awareness of Laughlin. The River Run is how people come to know Laughlin," he said.

Carrier wore a Harley-Davidson shirt, boots, and shorts to work Thursday. "Motorcycles right now are a centerpiece of culture in America," he said.

Outside the Golden Nugget people perused vendor tents, show bikes, and drank.

"Even if you don't have a bike, this event has turned into Southern Nevada's Mardi Gras," Carrier said.