Loud engines, heavy drinking and a lot of havoc - that’s the image that has been beaten into our heads nearly every time a group of bikers hits a town. Yet, the Mongols MC had a somewhat opposite effect on their recent entry into Boulder City, Nevada. The group‘s visit to town has drawn media attention for not causing a huge stir - economically, that is.
The Mongols Invasion of Boulder City, Nevada
Approximately 300 members of the notorious gang of “One percenters” converged on the town for a conference over the past weekend. Unfortunately, they can’t seem to catch a break. Shop owners blame the group for deterring customers, as business has reportedly been slower than usual.
The visit went off without many problems. The local police had backup from Henderson, Las Vegas and North Las Vegas as well as the FBI. Other than a list of traffic tickets, the group has not made it’s mark well known in the town.
Police Presence
Mongols motorcycle club attorney and Boulder City resident Stephen Stubbs also received a ticket for jaywalking, indicating the tight grip that law enforcement had on the town. He, like at least one local business owner, realized that the Mongols weren’t the only reason for the decline in business. Some believed that the massive police presence contributed to the decline in patronage, as an overall unwelcoming situation was created.
According to Stubbs, the police harassed members of the Mongols MC, stating, “It got to the point where the Mongols felt they needed to keep to themselves. Unfortunately, for Boulder City, that meant they spent a lot less money here than they could have.”
Boulder City PD's Perspective
The police, however, had a different take on things. Boulder City’s police chief took a “Better safe than sorry” approach to the situation and pointed to previous violence between the Mongols and Hells Angels. In 2002, 60 bikers joined a brawl between the rival gangs in Laughlin, Nevada - 3 of which ended up dead. In 2008, another brawl took place in a Las Vegas chapel.Despite the concerns of citizens and the police, the group’s appearance in town went off relatively smoothly. Just don’t tell that to the business owners who were let down by the lack of spending.
