Paging Hunter Thompson.....

Founded in 1948, in Fontana California, the Hell's Angels have become synonymous with both the outlaw lifestyle and Americana. Hunter Thompson lived with them, amongst them, and had an apartment, plus his face, wrecked by them. With the crackdowns on their drug culture and violent get-togethers the Hell's Angels have become more of a trademark than a symbol of the open road, beer bashes, and boot stompings. The NYC club did find its way into the news however:

New York Newsday
Police Search Hells Angels' NY
January 30, 2007, 8:02 AM EST

NEW YORK -- Heavily armed police searched the Manhattan headquarters of the Hells Angels Motorcycle Club in response to a report that a woman might have been beaten there.

The woman was found unconscious outside the motorcycle club's building late Sunday night, police said. Roberta Shalady, 52, of Brooklyn, was hospitalized in serious condition with a head injury and bruising around the eyes, police said.

The club's attorney, and radio personality, Ron Kuby provides my favorite quote:.

"The helicopters, the SWAT teams, the boys and all the toys, the armored personnel carrier -- I think it's a little much."

Ron, this wasn't a Boy's and Girl's Club or a Girl Scout bakery that was taken down. The unpredictability in terms of how the Angel's may respond to the intrusion, due to the amount of weaponry the club has or the state of sobriety exhibited by it members, makes erring on the side of massive response more than warranted.

For those who have not read it, you should: