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One Of The Biker Gang Members Was A Former Cop

by April Siese

About 170 bikers have been arrested in connection with a deadly brawl in Waco, Texas, that allegedly started at a Twin Peaks restaurant between rival motorcycle gangs the Bandidos and the Cossacks and quickly escalated into a shootout that claimed the lives of nine men. One of the suspects arrested was on the other side of the law for years, however. Marty Lewis, a Bandidos member, served as a police officer in San Antonio on the vice beat for more than three decades before retiring and entering the world of motorcycle clubs, according to CNN. Lewis primarily worked on cases involving prostitution and gambling. San Antonio Police spokesman Sgt. Javier Salazar told the news station in a statement that Lewis was not likely involved in gang infiltration, though.

Lewis had worked with SAPD for a total of 32 years, retiring in 2004. He was first publicly involved with the Los Patrons Motorcycle Club before joining the Bandidos last year. The Bandidos describe themselves as "the largest one percent club in the western hemisphere, with 1,100 members in Northern, Central, and South American countries," according to their website. Although the FBI considers the group an outlaw organization, Bandidos member Jimmy Graves maintains that they are not a gang nor are they affiliated with any gang groups. Photos of Lewis on his personal Facebook profile depict him with high ranking members of the Bandidos, though it is unclear what role he played in the group.

JENS-ULRICH KOCH/DDP/Getty Images

Similarly, Lewis' Facebook profile is filled with photos of him in Bandidos regalia and shows dozens of likes for motorcycle clubs across Texas. A majority of Lewis' public posts are, quite frankly, just dirty jokes and quotes along with the occasional photo of family members, including his son and mother. A particularly alarming photo, however, shows a member of Lewis' former motorcycle club the Patrons flipping off the camera in a hospital bed after "being taken out by some drunk bitch."

For all his postings from 2013 to 2015 on Facebook, Lewis makes no mention of his past life as a detective. A search of his LinkedIn profile yields little. Lewis states that he is retired and worked in public safety. He is currently being held on $1 million bond at the McLennan County Jail. There is very little information being offered as to what prompted the brawl and what role Lewis played in the altercation. Rumors range from a biker allegedly driving over a rival member's foot to the Cossacks and Bandidos fighting over a specific territory. The altercation was preceded by a Dallas-Fort Worth bulletin stating that tensions were high between the two rival gangs, according to local ABC affiliate WFAA. Lewis was formally arrested and charged with engaging in organized criminal activity.

Image: Getty Images (1)