Christian Biker Group Accuses South Carolina Police of Aggressive Driving, Causing Accident
A Christian motorcycle club in Jamestown, South Carolina is accusing local police officers of aggressively running them off the road and causing an accident in what was supposed to be a routine traffic stop for running a stop sign.
The incident occurred last weekend, when close to 50 members of the Disciple Christian Motorcycle Club (DCMC) were riding through the small town of Jamestown to attend a fundraiser for the American Diabetes Association. As DCMC's president, James Johnson, told The Post and Courier, the motorcyclists performed a routine biking practice when passing through a stop sign, where two of the bikers wait at the stop sign to watch for oncoming traffic, while the rest of the biking group rides through.
Police watching from close by saw the group of motorcyclists run through the stop sign, and proceeded to pull them over. The bikers present at the scene claim the police aggressively forced them to tumble off their bikes by coming up on them in the left lane. Multiple bikers fell off their bikes as a result, and three had to seek treatment at the nearby hospital for their injuries.
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Although the DCMC has retained a lawyer regarding last Saturday's incident, police involved in the traffic stop argue that they performed a routine practice in attempting to get the bikers' attention and pull them over.
Jamestown Police Chief Jay High told The Post and Courier that the police officers' in-car video will indicate they were not at fault in the accident.
"A large group of motorcycles disregarded a stop sign and while a county deputy was attempting a traffic stop from the rear, my officer activated his blue lights and siren and began passing riders on the left, in another lane to catch up to the foremost riders," he said.
"During this time some bikes abruptly slowed and one locked up his brakes and went down. This accident was not related to the officer's actions, but was captured up ahead of him by his in-car video."
Comments on The Post and Courier's Facebook page differ in opinions regarding Saturday's incident. One poster, Zebediah Goldston, wrote: "The people who were 'speeding through the middle of town' and 'ignoring a 4 way stop' were actually in the middle of raising money for a Juvenile Diabetes Fund Raiser, co-sponsored by Bikers Against Diabetes. They were travelling UNDER the posted speed limits."
"When you have that many motorcycles (over 50 were in attendence) it is MORE dangerous to allow outside vehicles into the 'pack'. For that reason we didn't just 'ignore' the 4-way, we actually used 4 motorcycles to block the intersection while the fundraising procession went through. This is widely recognized by many (including law enforcement) as being the safest means to get through these intersections."
The DCMC's official Facebook group is scattered with prayers and questions regarding those injured in Saturday's accident. Not all of those writing on the Facebook page support the group's take on what transpired last weekend.
"[...] you and your riders chose to ignore the sign and ride through the intersection without stopping. And when the police officer attempted to stop you, you blame him for doing his job - even though it was your own riders who caused the accident. If you want to call yourselves Christians, then perhaps you should make it your business to obey ALL of his instructions, not just the ones you like!!!" wrote one commenter.
