Police arrest 112, seize meth, pot at Nevada bike rally (Nevada)

Police arrest 112, seize meth, pot at Nevada bike rally

LAS VEGAS - An annual biker rally in Laughlin, Nev., resulted in 112 arrests and major drug hauls but there were no fatal accidents, authorities said.

The 24th Laughlin River Run attracted about 75,000 people to the Colorado River casino town, Las Vegas police Lt. Thomas Smitley said.

Highway checkpoints on Friday night netted more than 140 pounds of marijuana and 5 pounds of methamphetamine, he said.

"What's predictable is preventable, and that's what we did," Smitley said.

Law enforcement officials from California, Nevada and Arizona planned for the event for 11 months, and the result was that there were no major breakouts of violence, he said.

"The overall attitude of the crowd was very positive," Smitley said.

Police made 112 arrests, including 93 for misdemeanors, mostly alcohol-related, Smitley said.

There were 10 arrests on felony charges such as possession of drugs or stolen vehicles and nine gross-misdemeanor arrests for crimes such as concealing a weapon.

There were 89 arrests last year and 127 in 2004.

http://www.azcentral.com/arizonarepublic/local/articles/0501laughlin0501.html