Brother Speed
 | |
| Founded | May 1969 |
|---|---|
| Type | Motorcycle Club |
| Region | Northwestern United States |
| Membership | 150 |
| Website |
brotherspeed |
The Brother Speed Motorcycle Club is an outlaw motorcycle club[1][2] that was formed in Boise, Idaho in 1969, but now has its mother chapter in Portland, Oregon. They are considered by Oregon's Department of Justice to be one of six "outlaw motorcycle gangs" in the state.[1][3]
Brother Speed was established by a group of high school friends who rode motorcycles together. The friends noticed an increase in motorcycles in the area and decided to run a newspaper ad looking for anyone interested in riding together and starting a motorcycle club. A meeting was organized with approximately 20 people attending the first meeting. A few weeks after the first meeting, the group came up with the name, "Brother Speed." The club's insignia is a winged skull with sunglasses and its "colors" are black and gold.[4] There are around 150 Brother Speed members and there are eight chapters spread across Oregon, Idaho, Washington and Utah.[5]
In 2006, a member was sentenced to 21 years for distributing methamphetamine and lying about it in court. In 2005, federal and local officers raided the then Brother Speed Clubhouse where it was believed many of the meth transactions had occurred. It was believed that the member was a major leader in a large meth trafficking ring.[6]
On 19 September 2009, up to 26 motorcycles ridden by members of the Brother Speed motorcycle club were involved in a motorcycle crash on Interstate 5 near Wilsonville, Oregon. The crash inflicted serious injuries on two of the bikers, sending ten to the hospital, and closed off that portion of I-5 for four hours.[1][2][7][8] One of the critically injured Brother Speed members improved and was released from the hospital; the other died as a result of injuries sustained in the crash.[9]
The members of Brother Speed have a history of aggression and violence. In April 2012, two members of Brother Speed were arrested on suspicion of harassment, menacing, reckless driving and recklessly endangering another person, among other charges. After chasing a car in Eugene, Oregon, they were reportedly hitting the car with their hands and a metal hook attached to a leather lash.[10] In May 2012, five of the Idaho Falls members of Brother Speed, attacked two members of Pocatello's Empties motorcycle club at a gathering put together for a small boy (Wesley Johnson) who was suffering from cancer, nearly 400 bikers gathered that Saturday to grant Johnson's wish to participate in a motorcycle rally.[11]
See also
References
- 1 2 3 Bella, Rick (18 September 2009). "26 Brother Speed motorcycles crash on I-5; traffic backs up for miles". The Oregonian. Retrieved 2009-09-24.
- 1 2 Crombie, Noelle (19 September 2009). "Authorities identify 5 bikers hurt in I-5 wreck". The Oregonian. Retrieved 2009-09-24.
- ↑ "26 outlaw bikers crash on Oregon freeway Report: 2 gang members are seriously injured in collision on Interstate 5". MSNBC/Associated Press. 19 September 2009. Retrieved 2009-10-08.
- ↑ Bishop, Bill (14 June 2008). "Trial shines light on `outlaw' biker gang activities in state.". The Register-Guard.
- ↑ List of Brother Speed chapters
- ↑ "Businessman sentenced for drug trafficking, lying". casey santee. 2 March 2006. Retrieved 2012-10-24.
- ↑ 26 outlaw bikers crash on Oregon freeway
- ↑ Caldwell, Bert (19 September 2009). "Bikers injured in pile-up were from North Idaho". The Spokesman-Review. Retrieved 2009-09-24.
- ↑ Bella, Rick (5 October 2009). "26 Brother Speed member dies from injuries in Sept. 18 pileup". The Oregonian. Retrieved 2009-10-06.
- ↑ "Police: Motorcycle club members arrested after car damaged". Fox12 News. 16 April 2012. Retrieved 2012-10-24.
- ↑ "Boy's motorcycle gang wish starts with fight". CBS News. 22 May 2012. Retrieved 2012-10-24.