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In a scene out of Hunter S. Thompson’s book Hell’s Angels, the Fort Walton Beach area witnessed what appears to be a battle in a biker gang war.
Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Deputies arrested an alleged member of the Outlaws Motorcycle Club, Gregory Simonds. They charged him with a litany of crimes, including throwing a destructive explosive device, brandishing a weapon, and criminal mischief.
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It all started when Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Deputies were on their way to a call at the Harley Davidson Motorcycle Dealership in Fort Walton Beach on Beal Parkway.
On their way to the dealership, employees at the Jimmy John’s Sandwich Shop on the street flagged them down to ask for help. They told the deputies that someone had thrown an explosive device into the shop and it had exploded in the restaurant. The explosion broke several windows in the restaurant, causing about $5,000 in damage and causing small injuries via flying glass to one employee of the sandwich shop, according to the report.
The narrative from the arresting officers’ police report then says the deputies spoke to the members of The Pagan Motorcycle Club. According to this horde of outlaw bikers, Gregory Simonds arrived at the dealership in a silver sedan and pointed a gun at them. As he drove away, the members of the club say that Simonds threw an explosive device out of his window.
Soon after the sheriff’s deputies arrived on the scene, Simonds, a Pensacola resident, was seen driving a silver Subaru on Lewis Turner Boulevard near Mooney Road by an Okaloosa Sheriff’s Deputy.
A deputy started a traffic stop where State Route 85 and Nomad Way meet. According to the report, Simonds was detained without incident.
As deputies approached the car to detain Simonds, they noticed an Outlaws Motorcycle Club vest, guns and what they believed to be stick grenades and what the arrest report calls “M type explosive devices,” which have a description similiar to pipe bombs.
According to the Sheriff’s Office release, the Bureau of Alcohol, Firearms, Tobacco and Explosives has begun an investigation into the case.
The Pagans and the Outlaws are considered part of the ‘Big Four’ Outlaw Motorcycle Gangs or Clubs – along with the Hell’s Angels and Bandidos.
Earlier this year, the United States Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Missouri indicted 18 members of the Pagans for armed attacks against other outlaw motorcycle club members.
