After more than six hours of testimony on Thursday, several charges were dismissed in a Washington County courtroom stemming from a violent altercation linked to rival motorcycle gangs. The incident in question occurred in August at Forty Bar and Grille, where prosecutors allege that members of the War Dogs Motorcycle Club assaulted a member of the Pagan Motorcycle Club. A total of ten individuals face charges related to the incident: nine affiliated with the War Dogs and one Pagan, who reportedly discharged his firearm into the air outside the bar.
Security was notably increased during the hearing, with approximately 20 sheriff’s deputies present, a significantly larger-than-usual force for a single case. This heightened security underscored the serious nature of the proceedings, which involved disturbing allegations of a brutal attack.
Prosecutors described a harrowing scene where the victim was restrained, beaten, and attacked with bats. Security footage from the night of the incident was screened multiple times, revealing the chaotic violence that erupted inside the establishment. A bartender testified to the terrifying atmosphere, recounting how she and others sought refuge in the basement after witnessing the attack.
Defense attorneys, however, argued that the situation escalated from a mere bar dispute between two individuals, asserting that other club members were attempting to disarm the Pagan member rather than participating in an organized hit. They also claimed that the confrontation was sparked by a racial slur uttered by the Pagan member, framing the incident in a different light.
One specific allegation involved a hand gesture purportedly made by one of the defendants as a signal that incited the violence. Defense attorney Steven Valsamidis challenged this claim, citing a prosecution expert who testified that no universally recognized signal existed among the motorcycle groups.
The courtroom testimony also touched upon the death of a War Dogs member, 33-year-old Kenneth Hayman, who was killed in October while riding his motorcycle. Prosecutors argue that this homicide highlights an ongoing feud between the War Dogs and Pagans, adding another layer of complexity to the case.
Initially sealed, the case attracted significant attention, amplified by the dramatic circumstances surrounding the arrests of the defendants during a snowstorm last month. One defense attorney suggested that the secrecy surrounding the affidavits contributed to the public’s interest in the proceedings, which became the subject of intense speculation.
Following the testimony, the judge decided to drop the felony charges related to corrupt organizations and robbery, acknowledging that the victim’s firearm had been recovered behind the bar instead of being stolen. Remaining charges against the defendants will proceed to trial, keeping the case very much alive.
Washington County District Attorney Jason Walsh expressed disappointment in the dismissal of those specific charges but remarked that the case is still advancing, emphasizing that violent actions will not be tolerated in the region. Meanwhile, defense attorneys contended that the judge’s ruling affirmed their long-held position that the event was primarily a personal conflict rather than a gang-related incident.
In their view, the judge recognized the underlying nature of the altercation, suggesting that the charges against the defendants may not fully account for the chaotic circumstances that unfolded that night.