Hells Angels Vow Roaring Entry to Downtown Area

Reacting to what they see as harassment by law enforcement, the Hells Angels now say they will ride 1,000- strong through downtown Ventura on Monday despite a request by local authorities to steer clear of Main Street.

George Christie Jr., president of the local Angels chapter, said Thursday that he is reversing a decision to generally stay out of the downtown business district in large numbers because of provocative acts by city officials and the district attorney.

Christie, whose chapter is hosting the Angels’ 50th anniversary World Run celebration, said a recent city ban on motorcycle parking on two downtown streets and a district attorney press release Thursday about the arrest of an Angel are attempts to embarrass his organization.

“I think they’re trying to get us some negative publicity because they got some for what they’re doing to us with the parking,” he said. “The merchants said they want us down here.

“So now I think the merchants would like to see 1,000 Hells Angels riding through town,” Christie said. “It would be one entrance. And I’m sure from time to time there will be packs of motorcycles riding through town going to eat, going to do some sightseeing, going shopping.”

The dramatic Monday afternoon Hells Angels entrance will be made through a combination of main downtown streets not yet determined, Christie said: possibly California and Main streets, or perhaps Seaward Avenue and Thompson Boulevard.

City officials have said that special parking and traffic restrictions are common for such large events, and that the Hells Angels are not being harassed. And a spokesman for Dist. Atty. Michael D. Bradbury’s office maintained that the Thursday press release about an Angel’s arrest was routine.

But Christie said he reversed his decision to enter Ventura by a less-prominent route as part of a three-day local celebration after Bradbury’s office publicized the arrest of Angel Robert E. Lee Hill for failing to pay child support.

In a press release, the district attorney noted that Hill, 25, is a member of the local Hells Angels chapter. The release also said Hill was arrested at the Ink House parlor--a Christie business--while applying a tattoo to a customer.

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Hill has failed to pay $8,500 for support of his child in 1997 despite working at the tattoo parlor during that period, the release said. Christie maintained that Hill, in fact, was incarcerated for part of 1997 and unable to pay support during that time.

The press release also noted that Hill is on parole for possession of drugs for sale.

Jeff Bennett, a chief deputy district attorney, said his office issues press releases regularly when deadbeat parents are arrested. He said he was not sure how often prosecutors identify child-support arrestees by membership in a particular organization such as the Hells Angels.

“I can’t answer that question because I haven’t reviewed all the past [press releases],” he said.

Kevin Farrell, the prosecutor handling the case, said the timing of Hill’s arrest is only coincidental. He said a warrant was issued last week but a computer glitch delayed the arrest.

“The fact that he’s a Hells Angels member doesn’t make any difference to me,” Farrell said. “Why the warrant was served yesterday as opposed to last week or next week does raise an eyebrow, but it seems to me that if we were going to harass someone, we’d come up with something better than a child-support case.”

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Ventura Police Lt. Don Arth said authorities are not trying to make things more difficult for the Angels.

As with any large event, the city attempts to regulate noise and traffic with special controls, such as the motorcycle parking limitations enacted to avoid traffic snarls, he said. But two alternative parking lots were set aside nearby for motorcycles, he said.

Arth said he hopes that the Angels do avoid riding through the downtown en masse because of likely disruption to businesses and residents.

“You put 1,000 motorcycles in an area that has tall buildings and the noise can be deafening,” he said.

But Christie said the city should expect a thundering crowd.

“I don’t want to create an aggressive atmosphere,” he said. “But we certainly want to exercise our rights as citizens of the United States.”

Still, most of the 72-hour party will occur at the Angels’ clubhouse in the Ventura Avenue area. Fix Way will be closed for a block party for all three days, Christie said. Dinner will be served at the clubhouse each night, and Angels have rented Nicholby’s nightclub on Main Street for a St. Patrick’s Day party Tuesday night.

Kelley is a Times staff writer; Hobbs is a correspondent.