A memorial service for Twin Peaks bikers who were slain in the May 17th shootings was abruptly halted by a bomb scare on Saturday. One of the leaders of the group told Breitbart Texas, “A lot of the bikers are not buying it.”
The memorial began at the Old Six Flags Mall on Division Street in Arlington, Texas. The sixty riders in the processional were joined by approximately forty additional riders on their way to the McLennan County courthouse in Waco, Texas. They were greeted by about one hundred more bikers and other supporters when they arrived in Waco. The service was scheduled to begin at 10 a.m.
Mel Robins, John Bostick, and a road captain and a sergeant of arms for the Sons of Liberty Riders Club, rode in front of a hearse memorializing the nine bikers who were slain. These men helped organize the memorial service.
Dallas attorney, Clint Broden, was to be the keynote speaker. He was slated to talk to the group about the importance of fighting civil liberties in this country. Broden represents some of the bikers arrested in their criminal defense and civil rights actions for damages against the Waco Police Department and other officials.
The bikers arrived and the service began. The bikers and others sang the national anthem and said the pledge of allegiance. Biker Ted Mayo said the opening prayer and read some scriptures.
Jessie Rodriguez family paying respects at Twin Peaks restaurant (Photo by Christine Daniels)
The names of the nine killed on the day of the Twin Peaks shootings were read:
- Jesus Delgado Rodriguez, New Braunfels, Tx, 65
- Richard Vincent Kirschner, Jr., Wylie, Tx, 47
- Charles Wayne Russell, Tyler, Tx, 46
- Daniel Raymond Boyett, Waco, Tx, 44
- Wayne Lee Campbell, Arlington, Tx, 43
- Manuel Issac Rodriguez, Allen, Tx, 40
- Jacob Lee Rhyne, Ranger, Tx, 39
- Richard Matthew Jordan, II, Pasadena, Tx, 31
- Matthew Mark Smith, Keller, Tx, 27
The names of all of the bikers arrested on May 17th were being read when according to Mel Moss, a suitcase and an ice chest were found on the sidewalk adjacent to the parking lot of the courthouse near the ALICO building on the corner of Austin Avenue and 5th street. Moss is a 67-year-old rider who is the President of the Sons of Liberty RC (riding club).
Deputies from the sheriff’s department spotted the ice cooler and luggage. When they could not verify who it belonged to, they called the bomb squad.
Waco police officers secured the area from 4th to 6th streets. The fire department also came to the scene.
The bikers and those at the memorial service were evacuated during the event around 11 a.m.
Mel Robins told Breitbart Texas that Captain Steve Smith of the McLennan County Sheriff Department told him he was sorry they had to shut down the service, but the bomb squad was on the way.
Moss told Breitbart Texas, “Tension was high because most of the bikers there wanted to believe that the Waco Police Department planted the items in question.” As reported by Breitbart Texas, the bikers and the largest criminal defense organization in the state have questioned how the police department and the judiciary in McLennan County have handled the 177 bikers that were arrested.
A bomb squad handler and a robot were used to remove the items and investigate what they contained. The ice chest contained food, and the suitcase had clothes in it, so the bomb squad left around 12:30 p.m.
No one ever came to collect the ice chest or suitcase.
A man dressed in black had been photographed on top of the ALICO building. One of the bikers said Captain Smith told them there was very limited access to the building. He said the sheriff’s deputies said the man was just smoking a cigarette.
Moss said, “What’s sad is the Jessie Rodriguez’s family had more to say.” As reported by Breitbart Texas, Rodriguez was a 65-year-old purple heart veteran who was shot and killed on the day of the shootings.
John Bostick told Breitbart Texas, “There were several family members of the fallen nine at the event needing this memorial for some small sense of closure.”
Lee West told Breitbart Texas that he had done a perimeter check for a three block radius before 9 a.m. He did not see any suspicious packages or cars, or S.W.A.T. vehicles.
West said that law enforcement and the “man who dawned the EOD blast suit,” were all very professional. He told Breitbart Texas, “This was an unfortunate event, and I really do not think that law enforcement was trying to force this event to end early.”
West said, “I took it seriously and tested the law enforcement at every turn to smell authenticity, they were concerned for everyone’s safety.” He said. “They were pretty much risking their lives for the bikers. I thanked them personally by giving them waters, and gratitude all the way around.”
Mel Robins, the Vice President of the Sons of Liberty RC told Breitbart Texas, “I think it was somewhat suspicious myself. Someone was trying to give us a message to stop having these rallies. But as to who it is, your guess is as good as mine.”
Bikers have held two rallies at the McLennan County courthouse. Breitbart Texas was at the last protest and reported about it in July.
A coffee shop in the ALICO Building, Dichotomy Coffee and Spirits posted during the bomb scare, “Hey all, due to circumstances beyond our control we are temporarily closed. We hope to be open again soon.”
Hey all, due to circumstances beyond our control we are temporarily closed. We hope to be open again soon. Thanks.
— Dichotomy C&S (@Dichotomy_CS) August 22, 2015
The shop was closed from about 11:15 a.m. until about 1:15 p.m., according to the Waco Tribune-Herald. The manager, Michael Suttle, told the hometown newspaper, “We were lucky, because a lot of things like this go on a lot longer.” He said, “But we had people waiting to get in by the time we opened back up.”
The Waco Tribune-Herald also reported that an employee at a coffee shop on 6th street, never closed down. Wendy McLennan, an employee at a floral shop on Austin Avenue said she heard about the bomb scare “secondhand.” She told the newspaper, “Someone coming in from making a delivery mentioned there was something going on at the courthouse.” She said, “And someone else came into the store saying her apartment house had been evacuated and she needed some place to wait. But business never stopped.”
Christine Daniels posted on her Facebook page, “I’m sitting here trying to emotionally and mentally digest a week of unimaginable circumstances. From the circus they call examination trials of Will & Morgan English, to the Memorial Service that was cut short due to a supposed Bomb threat. It would appear that Waco did not want us honoring the nine families of those killed and the 177 Bikers illegally incarcerated following the Twin Peaks Ambush.” Daniels is a veteran and she describes herself as an advocate for justice.
Facebook post by Christine Daniels:
THERE IS HOPE!
It’s a hot muggy Sunday Afternoon… and I’m sitting here trying to emotionally and mentally digest a week of unimaginable circumstances. From the circus they call examination trials of Will & Morgan English, to the Memorial Service that was cut short due to a supposed Bomb threat. It would appear that Waco did not want us honoring the nine families of those killed and the 177 Bikers illegally incarcerated following the Twin Peaks Ambush.
But in the midst of all the drama, something beautiful and amazing happened!
After “evacuating” the area around the McLennan County Courthouse, we decided to go to the Scene of the Crime… Twin Peaks! We were not alone… many others had the same idea. As we rolled into the Parking lot of the abandoned Restaurant, I began to notice something pretty phenomenal, and it bolstered me up, giving me fresh hope that Justice will be served and Truth WILL triumph over even the most elaborate of cover ups.
It was a seemingly small thing, but it was a HUGE thing…. And what was it you ask?
For the first time since May 17th, the parking lot was full of Motorcycles! Oh, maybe not 200, but certainly enough to take back what was lost that day!
It’s not something we set out to do, but I got the message loud and clear. As more and more riders rolled in, it was as if God Himself had ordained this time to take back this place and send a message to us that TRUTH WILL PREVAIL! The innocent will not go without Justice and vindication.
Then the Rodriquez family arrived! Mary (Betty Boop), the widow of “Mohawk” and his Children began walking around the property, trying to take it all in. They all had T-shirts memorializing their husband and father and each had a bandana with his name on it.
I had the privilege to hug Mary and cry with her. Her grief stricken face was almost more than I could bear… the inner strength within her to stand in the same place where the love of her life was shot in the back and took his last breath is just too overwhelming! And yet she stood!
This simple act of Riders showing up at an abandoned restaurant to honor those who were gunned down in cold blood, speaks volumes! Even the Waco PD were kept away … they made their presence known, but they did not interfere. I hope those officers witnessed something that will touch their conscience.
In the end, WE WILL STAND BECAUSE THERE IS HOPE!!
Mel Moss told Breitbart Texas, “There were some interesting things we noticed. There did not seem to be a real sense of urgency, traffic and people were allowed to get close to the suitcase and the cooler. There was a guy on the top of the ALICO building, they said they did not talk to him.”
Moss continued, “A lot of the bikers are not buying it.”
A group of around 200 bikers and the family of Jessie Rodriguez and other bikers killed on May 17th went to the Twin Peaks restaurant after they were dispersed from the McLennan County courthouse. They held a service for the bikers there. Christine Daniels posted on her Facebook page that the parking lot was full of motorcycles.
The family of Jessie “Mohawk” Rodriguez placed a wreath on the spot where he died at the restaurant.
Family of Jessie Rodriguez lays wreath at Twin Peaks restaurant. (Photo: Christine Daniels)
The group is planning a “4th Wave” to Austin and the ride is entitled “Special Delivery.” Details are to be announced.
Lana Shadwick is a contributing writer and legal analyst for Breitbart Texas. She has served the state as a prosecutor and associate judge. Follow her on Twitter @LanaShadwick2
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