Thomas Higginbotham

What happens when we bring an undercover into a motorcycle gang, it raises all these other issues. We have to deal with his safety issues. We have to worry about him getting killed or getting assaulted. We have to protect him because he's hanging around without laws, right? And they're arch rivals for the Hells Angels in this violence. So he becomes a target by his association with them.

What happens when we bring an undercover into a motorcycle gang, it raises all these other issues. We have to deal with his safety issues. We have to worry about him getting killed or getting assaulted. We have to protect him because he's hanging around without laws, right? And they're arch rivals for the Hells Angels in this violence. So he becomes a target by his association with them.

He's riding with them. He's going to events with them all over the country. He's at their clubhouses, going to parties. This is just me talking, okay? His safety becomes number one. We got to keep him alive and keep him going. And they control his life. If we let him become a club member and he wears colors, they control his life and they control his every movement.

He's riding with them. He's going to events with them all over the country. He's at their clubhouses, going to parties. This is just me talking, okay? His safety becomes number one. We got to keep him alive and keep him going. And they control his life. If we let him become a club member and he wears colors, they control his life and they control his every movement.

We lose complete control of the investigation and the undercover. You know what I'm saying?

We lose complete control of the investigation and the undercover. You know what I'm saying?

When I started as a police officer, most of the club members that I encountered, they were Vietnam vets, just as they were when they started after World War II, the Hells Angels. They were basically combat veterans, a lot of them. And a lot of them don't have much love for the government, you know? They don't operate within the laws that most the rest of us do. They're territorial.

When I started as a police officer, most of the club members that I encountered, they were Vietnam vets, just as they were when they started after World War II, the Hells Angels. They were basically combat veterans, a lot of them. And a lot of them don't have much love for the government, you know? They don't operate within the laws that most the rest of us do. They're territorial.

They take what they want by force. They claim areas, like their patches, like Massachusetts. The outlaws were a bottom rock of Massachusetts. Well, the Angels always did that. So that's an instant war with these people, you know.

They take what they want by force. They claim areas, like their patches, like Massachusetts. The outlaws were a bottom rock of Massachusetts. Well, the Angels always did that. So that's an instant war with these people, you know.

They have ties to organized crime, racist, white supremacists. They have all of that, and they're close. And I always had an interest in them.

They have ties to organized crime, racist, white supremacists. They have all of that, and they're close. And I always had an interest in them.

Well, I actually, to be honest, when I was young, I actually had a Harley, and I rode. And all they did was steal everybody's bikes. They were notorious motorcycle thieves. But I found, like, the ones that I've got to know... There's something in their lives that brings them to that. They're looking for, like, there's something that they're missing. It's like a brotherhood. You know what I mean?

Well, I actually, to be honest, when I was young, I actually had a Harley, and I rode. And all they did was steal everybody's bikes. They were notorious motorcycle thieves. But I found, like, the ones that I've got to know... There's something in their lives that brings them to that. They're looking for, like, there's something that they're missing. It's like a brotherhood. You know what I mean?

Or camaraderie. It's just, it's an odd culture in a way, but it is a violent, violent way to live, though.

Or camaraderie. It's just, it's an odd culture in a way, but it is a violent, violent way to live, though.

So basically, we had done our wire, we'd made an arrest, and we had some of the members done for a narcotics violation.

So basically, we had done our wire, we'd made an arrest, and we had some of the members done for a narcotics violation.

When they decided that they were going to bring in an undercover, then we picked out a target that we thought was a weak link in the club. I don't know if he told you this.

When they decided that they were going to bring in an undercover, then we picked out a target that we thought was a weak link in the club. I don't know if he told you this.