CLEARLAKE – Organizers of a weekend motorcycle run are blaming a stepped-up law enforcement presence for the event's poor turnout, while Clearlake's police chief says he and other agencies around the lake were simply attempting to ensure a safe atmosphere.

Georgina Lehne, executive director of the Lake County Community Action Agency, and Joyce Overton, who – when not busy with her work as a Clearlake City Councilwoman – has helped promote the agency's many programs for low-income families, organized the inaugural Blue Heron Run, held Saturday in Clearlake at the old Austin Resort site.

The motorcycle run was to be accompanied by a day of fun events, a concert, vendors and more. But Lehne said the day was a disaster.

She said only 72 riders came to participate out of an expected 300, only four children showed up to take part in the games and activities and vendors did little business. Lehne blamed the event's collapse on local law enforcement, who she said went “overboard” in enforcing the event.

“Both of us are really upset,” she said of how she and Overton felt.

But Clearlake Police Chief Allan McClain said Monday he had yet to speak with Overton or Lehne, and didn't know exactly what their concerns were about the event.

For his part, McClain said he was concerned about the event, particularly relating to the band hired to entertain at the run, the Fryed Brothers, and its connections to outlaw motorcycle gangs.

He said he had been warned by specialists in motorcycle gang law enforcement to expect gangs – such as the Hell's Angels, Mullocks and Vagos – to come for the run, and gang members were in fact spotted at the event, he said.

McClain said he was told to expect 200 to 300 motorcycle riders, and that he told Overton he planned for extra enforcement on the event date. Otherwise, he said they had “minimal conversations” about the run.

Clearlake Police partnered with other law enforcement agencies around the county – the Lake County Sheriff's Office, California Highway Patrol and Lakeport Police – to provide coverage for the run, McClain said.

“What we set up this weekend is what I was told has always been done in the past,” he added.

In fact, during the last weekend of March, local law enforcement agencies were similarly out in force because of a poker run held by the Lake County chapter of the Vagos, as Lake County News previously reported.

On Saturday, Clearlake put four additional cars on duty, with two officers assigned to each car, he said. In addition, Lakeport, the sheriff's office and CHP each sent three cars for a total of 13 vehicles.

Lehne said she had reports that motorcycle riders were being turned away from the event by police. McClain countered by saying that police didn't begin patrolling the event until the poker ride left at 11 a.m. Police saw only about 60 motorcycles at the time, said McClain, who was himself patrolling the event during the day.

“I'm not sure what we in law enforcement did that would have harassed, intimidated or caused people not to come,” said McClain.

Clearlake Police had no issues that day within the city limits, said McClain, with no traffic stops, citations or arrests.

“We wanted to make sure everyone was safe and protected for this event,” he said.

CHP Officer Josh Dye said that agency conducted a few minor traffic stops during the day, wrote one ticket in Kelseyville and another at the intersection of Highways 53 and 20.

Vic McManus of Kelseyville, a member of the North Bay Motorcycle Association, led the four-and-a-half-hour poker ride with a friend.

He said they immediately noticed attendance was much lower than expected, and saw a police presence, but said that's not unusual for motorcycle events.

McManus said as they left for the run, entering Highway 53 toward Clearlake Oaks, he saw Clearlake Police and CHP parked by the side of the road. They weren't controlling traffic, as he said law enforcement have done at other events.

Going down through the intersection of Highway 53 and 20, McManus said he saw five enforcement cars waiting. As soon as the pack rolled through the intersection, the officers and deputies immediately pulled over the 100 or so motorcycles in an area with no road shoulder.

Officers went through the crowd, chastising everyone for having not stopped at the stop sign, said McManus.

“They were really unprofessional,” said McManus, a former correctional officer with the Lake County Jail who said he and other motorcyclists were “treated like criminals.”

Along with Clearlake and Lakeport Police, the sheriff's office and CHP, McManus said he saw Drug Enforcement Administration agents, and officers from Lake County's Probation Department and District Attorney's Office.

McManus said he saw no such law enforcement presence at the last local motorcycle poker run he attended more than a month ago sponsored by Lakeport's Ironhorse Creations.

He and his friend actually turned the pack around and went back the other way, opposite of their original plans, and took the backroads toward Kelseyville and Lakeport.

At one point McManus said a CHP officer broke into the middle of the pack of riders with his car and allowed cars to get in between the bikes. “That was a horrible risk to the riders,” said McManus.

McManus said he spoke with CHP Commander Dane Hayward and Sheriff Rod Mitchell Monday evening, and that he understood their concerns about motorcycle gangs.

He said he felt law enforcement could have done a better job interacting with the riders and being more friendly and welcoming to visitors.

Lehne estimated the event lost her agency as much as $15,000. “It was just a mess.”

She said she's still figuring out the losses. “I only know it wasn't a success.”

Lake County Community Action Agency still has hundreds of tickets to sell for a Harley motorcycle giveaway, and she's afraid that the agency's programs will be affected by the losses. “It takes a long time to get that money back, if you ever do,” she said.

 

Lehne said she is considering presenting a bill for the lost funds to the Clearlake City Council at its Thursday meeting.

 

As for the event's future, “I think it's done. I really think it's done.”

McClain said his goal was to be as supportive as possible while keeping the city safe. “I think that's what the community expects from me.”

If you'd like to purchase one of the tickets for the Harley motorcycle drawing, contact Lake County Community Action Agency, 995-0495. 

 

E-mail Elizabeth Larson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

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