Hells Angels pay tribute to leader of outlaw motorcycle gang Sonny Barger

The San Joaquin Sheriff's Office worried the event could turn dangerous after the funeral is over

The San Joaquin Sheriff's Office worried the event could turn dangerous after the funeral is over

STARTED. STAYING NOW IN THE STOCKTON AREA, DESPITE A STERN WARNING FROM THE SAN JOAQUIN COUNTY SHERIFF TELLING HELL’S ANGELS THEY ARE NOT WELCOME. THOUSANDS SHOWED UP ANY WAY TODAY TO SAY GOODBYE TO THEIR ORIGINAL LEADER. FROM OAKLAND, SONNY BARGER. HE PASSED AWAY FROM CANCER IN JUNE. HE WAS 83 YEARS OLD. KCRA 3 IS MICHELLE BANDA IS LIVE OUTSIDE THE STOCKTON 99 SPEEDWAY, WHERE THE SIX HOUR MEMORIAL SERVICE IS UNDER WAY. MICHELLE, WE KNOW SAFETY HAS BEEN A CONCERN THERE. THERE ANY ISSUES TO REPORT SO FAR? BRITNEY JUST CHECKED IN WITH THE SAN JOAQUIN SHERIFF’S DEPARTMENT. AND AS OF RIGHT NOW, THERE HAVE BEEN NO INCIDENTS, NO VIOLENCE TO REPORT AND QUIET. BUT AS YOU CAN HEAR, IT’S BEEN A LOUD, CONSTANT ROAR OF MOTORCYCLES RIDING IN AND OUT OF THE 99 SPEEDWAY FOR THE MEMORIAL SERVICE. AND ACTUALLY, WITHIN THE PAST HALF HOUR OR SO, WE’VE SEEN A LOT OF PEOPLE LEAVE AS THIS MEMORIAL SERVICE FOR SONNY BARGER IS WINDING DOWN. ORGANIZERS WERE EXPECTING THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE TO PAY THEIR RESPECTS HERE TODAY, EVEN THOUGH LAW ENFORCEMENT DIDN’T WANT THEM HERE IN THE FIRST PLACE. MOURNERS ON MOTORCYCLES. THOUSANDS TURN OUT ON TWO WHEELS TO HONOR THEIR HELLS ANGEL OAKLAND CHAPTER FOUNDER SONNY BARGER. THIS IS HISTORY HAPPENING IN STOCKTON RIGHT NOW WHERE A VERY, VERY LEGITIMATE R.P., SONNY BARGER, MOURNERS LIKE ANTHONY SERNA FROM HAYWARD, HE’S A GOOD PERSON. THANK YOU. REMINISCING ABOUT THE HELLS ANGEL LEADER MAKES HIM EMOTIONAL. FOR THIS TO HAPPEN IN STOCKTON, CALIFORNIA, MAN IS IT’S IT’S A BLESSING. IT’S REALLY NICE. BUT THAT’S NOT HOW THE SAN JOAQUIN COUNTY SHERIFF SEES IT. I MADE IT CLEAR THAT WE DID EVERYTHING WE COULD TO STOP THIS FROM HAPPENING. SHERIFF PAT WITHROW SAYS HIS DEPARTMENT, DOZENS OF OTHER AGENCIES AND THE CALIFORNIA HIGHWAY PATROL ARE SPENDING MILLIONS OF DOLLARS TO PROTECT THE COMMUNITY. THIS IS EVENT THAT THAT WE’VE MADE IT CLEAR THAT WE BELIEVE COULD TURN DANGEROUS. AND THE HISTORY OF THESE EVENTS PROVE THAT. WITHROW SAYS THEY’VE ALREADY SPOTTED RIVAL MOTORCYCLE GROUPS AND ARE ON HIGH ALERT FOR POTENTIAL VIOLENCE. I HOPE THAT IT COMES OFF PEACEFULLY AND WE HAVE ABSOLUTELY NO USE FOR EVERYTHING THAT WE PREPARED FOR. THAT WOULD BE OUR BEST SCENARIO. BUT PEOPLE LIKE TO BELIEVE SOMEONE LIKE SONNY BARGER DESERVES SERVES A SEND OFF LIKE THIS ONE. HE WAS JUST A GREAT MAN, YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN? GREAT MAN. AND THE FUNERAL SERVICE IS EXPECTED TO WRAP UP AT 8:00. WE CAN ACTUALLY HEAR THE BAND PLAYING NOW AND AS WE’VE SAID, WE’VE SEEN A LOT OF FOLKS LEAVING THE MEMORIAL SERVICE. BUT THAT’S WHAT THE SHERIFF SAYS THEY’RE CONCERNED ABOUT AS WHEN THE HUNDREDS OR THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE ACTUALLY LEAVE THE MEMORIAL SERVICE AND SPILL OUT INTO THE COMMUNITY. THAT’S WHAT THEY’RE GOING TO BE CONCERNED ABOUT AS THEY’VE BEEN OUT HERE ALL DAY LONG. BUT AS OF RIGHT NOW, BRITNEY, THERE ARE NO INCIDENTS TO REPORT. REPORTING LIVE IN SAN JOAQUIN COUNTY, MICHELLE, TO OUR KCRA 3 NEWS AND MICHELLE, BEFORE YOU GO, WHAT CAN YOU TELL US ABOUT HOW THIS IS IMPACTED NEARBY BUSINESSES? WHAT ARE THEY SAYING ABOUT THIS? NOW, THE SHERIFF DID TALK ABOUT BUSINESSES THAT THEY’VE BEEN COMMUNICATING WITH WHO ARE CONCERNED ABOUT, YOU KNOW, THE HELLS ANGELS BEING HERE IN THE COMMUNITY. AND SO SOME OF THEM MAY DECIDE TO CLOSE EARLY TONIGHT, CLOSED BEFORE THE MEMORIAL SERVICE IS OVER, JUST T

Hells Angels pay tribute to leader of outlaw motorcycle gang Sonny Barger

The San Joaquin Sheriff's Office worried the event could turn dangerous after the funeral is over

There was a constant roar of engines as members of an outlaw motorcycle gang made their way into Stockton's 99 Speedway.Thousands turned out on two wheels Saturday for the six-hour funeral service for Ralph “Sonny” Barger, 83, as law enforcement kept a close eye on the event due to concerns about violence.Barger, a Modesto native, died in June after a brief battle with cancer. He's credited with creating the first Oakland chapter of the Hells Angels in 1957.Anthony Serna traveled from Hayward to pay his respects to the Hells Angel leader. Serna said he met Barger when he was 16 at a few events in Oakland."For this to happen in Stockton, California, is a blessing. It's really nice," Serna said as he raised his fist and then wiped away tears.But the San Joaquin County sheriff doesn't see the service as a blessing."I made it clear we did everything to stop this from happening," said Sheriff Pat Withrow.Withrow said the service is costing his department $400,000 and he estimates the dozens of other agencies and the California Highway Patrol are spending millions of dollars to protect the community."This is an event that we made it clear that we think it could turn dangerous," Withrow said. " The history of these events proves that."The Justice Department describes the Hells Angels as a criminal enterprise, with a history of involvement in murders, the distribution of drugs and other criminal activities.Withrow said deputies have already seen rival motorcycle gangs in the area. He said they are concerned about what happens after the funeral ends and thousands of Hells Angels spill out into Stockton and the surrounding communities. "I hope it comes off peacefully and we have absolutely no use for everything we prepared for," he said "That would be our best scenario." After the event, the sheriff's department reported only a few minor incidents, but said additional resources will remain throughout the county.

SAN JOAQUIN COUNTY, Calif. —

There was a constant roar of engines as members of an outlaw motorcycle gang made their way into Stockton's 99 Speedway.

Thousands turned out on two wheels Saturday for the six-hour funeral service for Ralph “Sonny” Barger, 83, as law enforcement kept a close eye on the event due to concerns about violence.

Barger, a Modesto native, died in June after a brief battle with cancer. He's credited with creating the first Oakland chapter of the Hells Angels in 1957.

Anthony Serna traveled from Hayward to pay his respects to the Hells Angel leader. Serna said he met Barger when he was 16 at a few events in Oakland.

"For this to happen in Stockton, California, is a blessing. It's really nice," Serna said as he raised his fist and then wiped away tears.

But the San Joaquin County sheriff doesn't see the service as a blessing.

"I made it clear we did everything to stop this from happening," said Sheriff Pat Withrow.

Withrow said the service is costing his department $400,000 and he estimates the dozens of other agencies and the California Highway Patrol are spending millions of dollars to protect the community.

"This is an event that we made it clear that we think it could turn dangerous," Withrow said. " The history of these events proves that."

The Justice Department describes the Hells Angels as a criminal enterprise, with a history of involvement in murders, the distribution of drugs and other criminal activities.

Withrow said deputies have already seen rival motorcycle gangs in the area. He said they are concerned about what happens after the funeral ends and thousands of Hells Angels spill out into Stockton and the surrounding communities.

"I hope it comes off peacefully and we have absolutely no use for everything we prepared for," he said "That would be our best scenario."

After the event, the sheriff's department reported only a few minor incidents, but said additional resources will remain throughout the county.

Hells Angels pay tribute to leader of outlaw motorcycle gang Sonny Barger

The San Joaquin Sheriff's Office worried the event could turn dangerous after the funeral is over

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