Four Florida Keys men were arrested on Saturday, March 2 after a fight on Big Pine Key that started over a T-shirt, according to the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office.
The 3-versus-1 scuffle happened at 12:30 p.m. at the Boardwalk Bar and Grill, 31044 Avenue A, on Big Pine.
Three of the men arrested belong to the Pagan’s Motorcycle Club, the sheriff’s office said in a statement. They are: Derek Marshall Queen, 41, of Key West, Anthony Eliopulos, 55, of Ramrod Key and David Mirth, 60, of Big Pine.
Pagan’s is one of the groups the federal government defines as “Outlaw Motorcycle Gangs,” they say are highly structured criminal outfits committing violent crimes and trafficking guns and drugs.
The arrests came after deputies said 49-year-old Jeffrey Jones, of Key West, was at the restaurant’s bar wearing a black T-shirt with white lettering that reads, “Support Your Local Outlaws.”
Three Pagans showed up wearing their “gang clothing,” deputies said, and proceeded to forcibly walk Jones outside the restaurant and hold him against his will.
First, they stripped Jones of his Outlaws’ T-shirt and then they pinned him between two vehicles, MCSO spokeswoman Becky Herrin said.
“That is when deputies arrived,” Herrin said.
Initially, the sheriff’s office said Jones was a member of the Outlaws but later Sunday put out another statement. In further interviews after his arrest,
Jones told detectives he is not an Outlaws member, he was just wearing the T-shirt showing support for them.
“The other three men are confirmed members of the Pagan’s Motorcycle gang,” the sheriff’s office added.
No cooperation
No one connected with the fight – even the restaurant’s management – wanted to cooperate with law enforcement, Herrin said.
The alleged victim, Jones, repeatedly tried to leave the scene despite deputies warning him to stay put.
After 11 warnings from deputies, Jones tried once more to leave. Deputies put him in handcuffs and arrested on a charge of obstructing a criminal investigation.
All four were still locked up at the county jail on Stock Island the day after the fight. But Jones was released in the afternoon without having to post bond. The Pagan’s members each have bonds set at $150,000.
MCSO detectives had to reach out for help from the Drug Enforcement Administration to view the restaurant’s security video because they said the management refused to hand it over.
So detectives obtained a federal subpoena for the video and that prompted management to release it.
‘Find an Outlaw!’
The Big Pine Key arrests are the latest in a series of investigations related to outlaw biker gang activity that MCSO has taken on in recent years.
“We will not tolerate such groups operating here in Monroe County,” Sheriff Ramsay said in a statement.
“We will continue to make the investigation of gang-related crimes a priority and will not allow the members of such groups to interfere with the day-to-day lives of the peaceful and law-abiding citizens whom we serve,” Ramsay said.
The Pagan’s club doesn’t have much of a clearly official online presence. However, the Outlaws have a website that gives a history of the organization and sells merchandise, including jewelry, hats and shirts – including the “Support Your Outlaws” type that Jones was reportedly wearing before the fight.
But the Outlaws make clear they don’t take questions over the phone or by email.
“Everything is done face to face,” the home page states. “NOT online DO NOT write us asking how to join! Find an Outlaw and ask him!”
‘Find an Outlaw!’
The Big Pine Key arrests are the latest in a series of investigations related to outlaw biker gang activity that MCSO has taken on in recent years.
“We will not tolerate such groups operating here in Monroe County,” Sheriff Ramsay said in a statement.
“We will continue to make the investigation of gang-related crimes a priority and will not allow the members of such groups to interfere with the day-to-day lives of the peaceful and law-abiding citizens whom we serve,” Ramsay said.
The Pagan’s club doesn’t have much of an online presence, such as a clearly official home website.
However, the Outlaws have a website that gives a history of the organization and sells merchandise, including jewelry, hats and shirts – including the “Support Your Outlaws” type that Jones was reportedly wearing before the fight.
But the Outlaws make clear they don’t take questions over the phone or by email.
“Everything is done face to face,” the home page states. “NOT online DO NOT write us asking how to join! Find an Outlaw and ask him!”
UPDATE: An earlier version of this online story reported that the sheriff’s office called Jeffrey Jones a member of the Outlaws Motorcycle gang. After further interviewing Jones, the sheriff’s office put out a statement that said Jones told detectives he is not a gang member but was only wearing an Outlaws T-shirt.
