Deputies spotted the suspects holding up traffic on Rancho California Road and Diaz Road before they jumped on the southbound I-15 ramp, blowing through a solid red light, the sheriff’s department said.
The bikers, all men, were “blocking intersections, temporarily halting the flow of traffic in order to facilitate the passage of all the motorcyclists,” through the intersection, a spokesperson for the sheriff’s department told The Epoch Times.
The bikers sped off after deputies signaled for them to pull over but eventually stopped on the shoulder of the road, causing two lanes of the freeway to temporarily close.
Because of the large number of bikers, officers from various departments responded, including the California Highway Patrol, Murrieta Police Department, and Riverside County’s Gang Task Force Region 3.
Of the 13 men, six were arrested on suspicion of evading, five on suspicion of possessing illegal weapons, including tear gas and a dagger.
They were all booked into the Cois Byrd Detention Center in Murrieta, authorities said.
Suspects accused of evading were Travis McQueen, 36, and William Brucker, 36, both of Bakersfield; Paul Mayugba, 49, and Frank Pedrones, 30, both of Stockton; Joseph Fonseca, 48, of Hanford; and Alexander Patterson, 30, of Taft.
For weapons, according to the sheriff’s department.
Weapons suspects included William Crosby III, 30, and Yater Felps McGill, 33, both from Las Vegas, accused of possessing tear gas; Dayton Martinez, 28, of Vista, accused of possessing a dagger; and Zachary Lancaster, 32, of Bakersfield and Lewis Forester, 40, of Stockton, whose alleged weapons were not specified.
Cedar City, Utah, resident Jesse Williamson, 42, was suspected of being a convicted felon in possession of a loaded firearm, and Bonita resident Christian Pizarro, 24, was accused of reckless driving and an outstanding misdemeanor warrant.
The sheriff’s press release did not say when the men would be arraigned.
The sheriff’s department reminded residents and businessowners to report criminal activity when they see it by calling the Sheriff’s Dispatch at (951) 776-1099 or by calling 911 for emergencies.
