by Nick Beres
OVERTON COUNTY, Tenn. -- A massive show of police force defused a potential riot between two rival motorcycle gangs.
"They call it the Southern Thunder Rally," said Herb Clark, owner of Scooter's Biker Bar that hosted the event in Overton county.
Clark said members of the Outlaws and the Renegades, two rival biker clubs, showed up along with hundreds of other motorcyclists.
"They dislike each other as a club thing and I got caught in the middle of it," said Clark, who does not belong to any biker club.
Clark said a member of the Renegades started causing trouble and the punched him in the head. Tension went up and someone immediately called 911 telling police to come.
"There were two biker gangs the Outlaws and the Renegades. Thirty on each side and there was about to be a fight," said Greg Etheredge, Livingston Police Chief.
Police, deputies from Putnam and Overton Counties, the Tennessee Highway Patrol and SWAT team members all responded to the call.
"I've never seen so many police cars in one place," said Clark.
Etheredge said they were taking no chances.
"I would not have wanted to wander in with three officers with 30 of anything much less biker gangs with reputations like they like to maintain," said Etheredge.
The Renegade troublemaker escaped before police arrived, but they did manage to settle things down and no one was arrested.
