Police report no incidents
By Michael Turton
As motorists entered Cold Spring Saturday, June 29, they were greeted by electronic signs reading, “Use caution — motorcycle event ahead.” But any concern that a fundraiser hosted in the village by the Redrum Motorcycle Club might cause problems proved unfounded as the event went off without a hitch. The Brooklyn-based club’s “Cruisin’ for St. Jude” was held to raise money for the St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. The event began with a ride from the Palisades Mall in West Nyack that ended at Mayor’s Park where a barbeque was held. About 150 riders took part.
There was an unusually strong and highly visible police presence in Cold Spring throughout the day, possibly prompted by the March 15 attack on members of the Old Bones Motorcycle Club at the former Post Road Hardware located on Route 9 just south of Route 301. Six people were taken to hospital after being injured in the attack — widely believed to have been carried out by members of a rival club.
George Kane, Cold Spring Police Department’s officer-in-charge, downplayed any connection with the March attack in explaining the large number of police in the village during Redrum’s event — CSPD had five officers on duty that day. “There was no direct connection (with the March attack),” Kane said. “We just wanted to be prepared. We didn’t want to let our guard down.” Kane said there were no incidents or arrests during the event.
The New York State Police, Putnam County Sheriff’s Department and Metropolitan Transportation Authority Police Department also assigned officers. A spokesman for the Putnam County Sherriff’s office said that department has no record of any previous incidents involving the Redrum Motorcycle Club.
Cliff Matias, Redrum National President, was very happy with the first-time event. “It was a great turnout. Several other clubs took part.” He estimated that between $2,500 and $3,000 was raised. The funds are not earmarked for a specific project but will be used for whatever purpose St. Jude’s Hospital decides.
“There was not a single problem,” Matias said, adding that cooperation from the Village of Cold Spring and police was excellent. “We put this together at the last minute. I think we’d like to do it again next year,” he said.
Redrum has six other chapters including one in the Hudson Valley. Its motto is “Spreading positivity on two wheels.” Nials Andrews, the club’s spokesman, at Saturday’s event said: “Our philosophy is that you get out of it what you put into it. If you take more than you give, you end up with less. The more you give back, the better off you are.”
Nials said that the club has done numerous benefits, including book drives for kids. “We give back to the community. We’re not an outlaw club. Our philosophy is a lot different than other clubs.”
Allison McIntyre, a bartender at McGuire’s on Main, said that police stopped by three times during the day as they patrolled Main Street. “They just wanted to be sure everything was OK and to tell us to let them know if there were any problems.” She thought the large police presence may have hurt attendance at the event. “I don’t know what they expected would happen — it was a charity event for St. Jude’s.”
Ironically, food at the event was catered by RoundUp Texas BBQ, which is located immediately adjacent to the former hardware store where the attack on the Old Bones Motorcycle Club took place.
Photos by M. Turton
