Guns, Drugs Seized From Motorcycle Gang In Brockton: State Police

BROCKTON, MA — State Police charged five suspected members or associates of the Outlaws Motorcycle Club with gun and drug crimes Friday following an investigation in the area at and around the Motel 6 on Westgate Drive in Brockton. State Police said they seized six unlawfully carried firearms from the four out-of-state men and one woman they said were in town for an Outlaws Motorcycle Club's memorial service.

State Police said MSP Gang Unit Troopers on Friday afternoon encountered a man believed to be a member of the Outlaws Motorcycle Club-Tennessee and that he admitted to carrying a pistol. Because he lacked a permit to carry in the state, State Police said they took a Taurus .38-caliber revolver from him and placed him in custody. Police said Matthew Miles, 41, of McMinniville, Tenn., was also found in possession of crystal methamphetamine, brass knuckles and ammunition, with additional ammunition recovered from his vehicle. He was charged with unlawfully carrying a firearm, unlawful possession of ammunition and possession of a Class A substance.

Through their investigation of the incident, Police said they identified Pedro Tapia 51, of Murfreesboro, Tenn., of being in a hotel room where there was another gun belonging to Miles. Police said they entered the room and found a .45-caliber handgun in plain view on the night stand. After securing a search warrant, the rest of the room was searched and Tapia, who is also believed to be a member of the Outlaws Motorcycle Club-Tennessee, was charged with improper storage of a firearm.

Police said additional members of the Gang Unit Troopers and troopers from the MSP's Troop D Community Action Team saw Matthew Ballingham, 43, of Waterbury, Conn., arrive at the hotel and determined he was an Outlaws Motorcycle Gang-Connecticut member who was carrying a 9-mm Glock handgun with a high-capacity magazine. He was also charged with unlawful carrying of a firearm, unlawful possession of ammunition and possession of a large-capacity feeding device.

That night, Police said two cars carrying suspected Outlaws members and associates were stopped near Motel 6. Brockton police assisted State Police in locating a Cobra .38-caliber hand gun in the first car and a Smith & Wesson .40-caliber Shield handgun and Smith & Wesson 9-mm handgun in the second car. Edward Mahon, 61, a suspected club member from Cornwall, Vt., who was in possession of the Cobra, was charged with unlawful carrying of a firearm and unlawful possession of ammunition. Margaret Cahill, 29, of Westmont, Ill., was charged with two counts each of unlawful carrying of a loaded firearm, unlawful possession of a loaded firearm and an unlawful possession of ammunition.

A search warrant was obtained for an additional motel room where Police said they found about four grams of crystal methamphetamine and a box of .45-caliber rounds, as well as a Springfield XD .45-caliber handgun, a loaded magazine and a knife.

All were bailed from custody and are expected to appear in Brockton District Court next week.

EDITOR'S NOTE: Information for this article was supplied by the Massachusetts State Police Department. Patch follows a name removal policy for those listed in its published police reports.