The police chief has confirmed that an assault July 11 outside Pancho's Bar and Restaurant, stemming from a fight that started in the bar, "was definitely gang related."
"This incident was not just a dispute in the bar and was definitely gang related," said Hollister Police Chief Jeff Miller. "(We) definitely have concerns over gang activity at Pancho's. That particular establishment seems to attract that element."
The bar was hosting a rap show billed as the celebration of the 10th anniversary for The Family Tree. Around 8 p.m., a fight broke out near the bathrooms that quickly spread to the bar. Security started pulling people apart and the fight moved outside, where more than 100 people at the show, Miller said.
At some point after the fight had moved outside, a 27-year-old Fremont man was struck over the head with a chair. The injury was serious enough to warrant him being airlifted to an area hospital.
Police are still investigating the cause of the assault but have heard two plausible scenarios. One is that someone approached one of the performers for an autograph and a member of that performer's entourage took exception. The other scenario is that the fight was drug related.
In either case, Miller said that it was not a family event. "This was all gang related."
The incident is tied in to a concert that was supposed to be held at the armory building near the airport that was canceled, Miller said. Although the concert was shut down at the armory, it was moved to Pancho's and drew a largely Norteno crowd, Miller said.
"This would have been the concert that was canceled at the armory," Miller said. "There was a heavy influence of Nortenos that came from out of town to Pancho's for that concert. Out-of-town gang members came into Hollister because of the event put on by the promoter."
Miller said the man in charge of the party at Pancho's was someone arrested in 2005 for fighting with another man at Calaveras Elementary School. When the two were fighting, authorities arrived and a gun came out of the other man's pocket, causing the school to be locked down during the school's Christmas program. Both men had gang ties at the time.
Miller also said other events like the concert at Pancho's are being planned right now. The next one is scheduled to be in Salinas, although he said he wasn't sure when.
The July 11 fight isn't the first incident that has caused police intervention. In May 2008, an argument broke out in the bar which lead to a stabbing murder across the street on the 400 block of East Street.
Pancho's owner Maria Jimenez declined to comment when reached last week.
Miller said that from various reports from his officers on the scene, there appeared to be "a lot of people wearing red and a hostile environment." After the assault with the chair, an officer drove by and called in for backup because the crowd was not responding to orders to back away from the victim, Miller said.
"These were not your Saturday afternoon concert goers - it was a tense situation," he added.
Police only became aware of the fight at Pancho's because an officer drove by and saw what Miller said was 300 to 400 "strongly Norteno or Norteno affiliates" outside fighting. Those involved were uncooperative with police and were seen posing in groups, some with posters and taking pictures.
"This was a Norteno party," Miller said.
For the full story, see the Free Lance on Tuesday.
Colin McConville Colin McConville is a reporter with the Hollister Free Lance. You can reach him by email or at (831) 637-5566.
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