SPECIAL REPORT: OUTLAW MOTORCYCLE GANGS FREQUENTING FERRIS BAR

FERRIS – The Ferris Police Department has concerns about the Ferris Bar and Grill at 210 W. 6th Street.

This establishment is located within the city limits of the city of Ferris and is also located across the street from the City of Ferris City Council Chambers, and within 500 feet of the Ferris First Baptist church.

The church has a large gym for youth activities and an outdoor playground for children.

Since the bar’s opening, there have been at least two instances of groups known as outlaw motorcycle gangs frequenting the Ferris Bar and Grill.

The two motorcycle gangs are the Bandidos outlaw motorcycle gang and the Foresaken Horseman outlaw motorcycle gang.

The Bandidos OMG are in a database maintained by the Texas Department of Public Safety and the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the FBI considers the Banditos OMG to be a security threat group and are known to be involved in extensive organized crime.

The Foresaken Horseman OMG are also in the same database as the Bandidos OMG.

Both groups are known to law enforcement as recognized street gangs.

The Bandidos OMG were involved in the deadly shooting incident at the Twin Peaks bar in Waco which left several people dead and wounded by gunfire.

This type of activity at any business establishment in Ferris is of great concern to the Ferris Police Department.

It should also be of great concern to every citizen of Ferris.

I contacted the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission (TABC) and talked with one of their special agents regarding the situation with the Ferris Bar and Grill and the outlaw motorcycle gang activity.

The agent told me this is not a good situation.

OMG’s are trying to establish territorial control in Texas, and small towns like Ferris are prime territory.

While it is not illegal for OMG’s to wear their colors (vests usually adorned with patches identifying the gang association) in bars, the owners are still held responsible for any criminal activity in their respective establishments.

I was instructed to advise the owner of the bar any incidents regarding outlaw motorcycle gangs would expose the business to possibly having their certificate/license suspended for up to two years.

On June 6, Detective Sergeant Walter Weiss and I visited Mr. Richard Ho at his residence to inform him about what the TABC agent had told me.

During that meeting, Billy Hamm was also present.

Mr. Hamm previously identified himself to me as the general manager of Ferris Bar and Grill.

Mr. Ho and Mr. Hamm were advised at this time about the potential repercussions if any incidents involving OMG’s occurred at the Ferris Bar and Grill.

Mr. Ho appeared not to have any knowledge of the incidents where the Bandidos and the Foresaken Horseman had visited his bar. His lack of knowledge seemed unusual to me, because I had previously talked with Mr. Hamm about this exact same issue.

This happened after the City Council meeting on April 16, when the council agreed to allow Ferris Bar and Grill to utilize the City Alley Park.

On that particular day, I talked with Mr. Hamm and told him about my concerns with the Bandidos frequenting the Ferris Bar and Grill. He told me then, he had advertised a “Biker Night” on the Ferris Bar and Grill Facebook page, and that’s how the Bandidos came to visit the bar.

He assured me this was an isolated incident, and this would not happen again.

However, this wasn’t to be the case.

After my discussion with Mr. Hamm on April 16, I once again observed several other members of another outlaw motorcycle gang park their motorcycles directly in front of the Ferris Bar and Grill.

This gang wore colors identifying themselves as the Foresaken Horseman. And wore patches on their vests stating they supported the Bandidos.

I later found out from a Dallas Police Department Gang Task Force detective the Foresaken Horseman are a support group of the Bandidos.

They pay the Bandidos a fee, allowing them to wear the patch showing their support.

In concluding our meeting with Mr. Ho and Mr. Hamm on June 6, Ho looked at Hamm and told him to keep this type of activity from happening again.

But, there was one other instance where another motorcycle gang member from La Familia was allowed to stay in the bar after the June 6 meeting.

La Famila OMG is a patched over Bandido motorcycle gang.

Mr. Hamm admitted he allowed the gang member to stay after we had placed them on notice.

He said he would post signs at the front door of the bar indicating gang colors are “not permitted in the bar.”

Detective Weiss and I left the residence and made a written report of the notification.