Fourteen alleged members of criminal motorcycle gangs were arrested following an incident that started on Highway 119 north of Taft Friday night.
The incident started just after 7:30 p.m. when an officer from a law enforcement agency tried to make a traffic stop on a single motorcycle rider.
the rider refused to stop and “multiple other riders tried to interfere with the officer, according to Taft Police.
Other law enforcement officers, including Taft Police and the Kern County Sheriff, were called in to assist
“…the Kern County Sheriff’s Office received a request from the California Highway Patrol to assist them with a pursuit involving multiple motorcycles, who were wearing possible gang attire, near Highway 119 and South Enos Lane, ” the Kern County Sheriff’s Office said in a news release.
“During the pursuit, approximately five of the suspects yielded at a Mobil Gas Station in the 19000 block of Taft Highway, while the other nine continued northbound on South Enos Lane. Eventually, the pack of motorcycle riders yielded at the intersection of South Enos Lane and Stockdale Highway; all 14 suspects were taken into custody without further incident,” the KCSO said.
The suspects were identified as being associated with either the Hells Angels or Hermanos Unidos motorcycle gangs, according to the KCSO.
Taft Police Sgt. Corey Beilby confirmed reports that at least one Hell’s Angel was seen in Taft Friday evening
The Sheriff’s Gang Unit responded to assist with the investigation seen in Taft Friday evening.
All of the suspects were eventually booked into the Sheriff’s Lerdo facility for evading arrest and participating in a street gang.
Fourteen motorcycles and jackets were confiscated, the KCSOS said.