East Texan involved in Waco biker melee shot at officers, charged with attempted capital murder : Former Hells Angels leader George Christie acts out life of crime, danger, comradery in play

Longview News Journal

A Winona man involved in the 2015 biker shootout in Waco has been arrested in Gregg County and charged with two counts of attempted capital murder of a peace officer after a high-speed chase led to him firing at a state trooper and sheriff’s deputy.

Jason Alan Dillard, 42, was held Friday in the Gregg County Jail on bonds totaling $1.145 million, also charged with evading arrest or detention with a vehicle; unlawful carrying of a weapon; driving while intoxicated, third or more offense; and reckless driving.

Dillard’s arrest at 11:57 p.m. Thursday in Kilgore followed events that started after Texas Department of Public Safety Trooper Kiefer Bounds observed Dillard’s pickup license plate lamp was out after Dillard pulled out of a liquor store parking lot and turned north onto Wright Mountain Road, and then east on FM 1252, police said.

The trooper activated his lights to begin a traffic stop after Dillard crossed over the white line, drove on the shoulder and crossed the center line, according to police.

Bounds notified Gregg County dispatch of a pursuit, and Dillard reached speeds of 100 mph in a construction zone of eastbound Interstate 20 and swerved toward a sheriff’s deputy parked on the right shoulder, police said.

Dillard then stuck his hand out the window and fired a shot apparently in the direction of the trooper and a deputy behind him, police said.

Dillard continued to drive erratically until his pickup’s tires were blown out by police spikes, stopping in a yard on Oakwood Street in Kilgore. Bounds then drew his pistol and ordered Dillard to show his hands as he opened his truck door, police said.

Dillard held a handgun as he exited the pickup and did not obey an order to drop it, police said. Sheriff’s Deputy Chris Bullard came around Dillard’s pickup to make contact with Dillard, who again fired a shot while Bullard’s arms were around him, causing the gun to jam.

He originally was charged in the May 2015 deadly biker shootout, but those charges were dropped May 4 in McLennan County, the Waco Tribune-Herald reported.

Dillard also is one of numerous bikers who have sued, claiming their civil rights were violated after the shootout when Waco and McLennan County officials arrested 177 bikers on identical charges and placed them under $1 million bonds.

St Louis Public Radio

As a young boy in the ‘50s, George Christie remembers being in awe when he first saw a motorcyclist coming through town on a decorated Harley Davidson wearing a Levi vest with the sleeves cut off.

“That just stuck in my mind,” Christie described to St. Louis on the Air host Don Marsh on Friday’s program, “… [Someone] talking to my father became so upset [at the motorcyclist] and I thought, ‘gee, this is a pretty powerful position [the motorcyclist] is in and he’s not even paying attention to anybody, he’s just minding his business.’”

Christie later went on to become a leader of the notorious Hells Angels Motorcycle Club and remained dedicated up until one day in 2011, when he left the gang after deciding that he would not partake in the many fights the gang was involved with.

“We were fighting every major bike club in the world at the time,” he explained. “Historically, when you run out of people to fight, you turn inward and I said, ‘I don’t want to be here for that.’”

So how does one quit the Hells Angels? Christie said “very carefully.”

Christie shocked fellow club members when he walked into their meeting and announced his decision to quit.

“I took my patch off, folded it up … and the walk to the door to cross that threshold out into the street was the longest walk I ever took,” he said. Upset with Christie’s decision, the motorcycle club banned any members from interacting with Christie.

“I’ve been very cautions. I’m not in fear of my life … I don’t lose any sleep at night but it’s something I think about,” he added.

Since his departure, Christie transitioned to a new career in writing, speaking, promoting concerts and consulting for defense attorneys.

Christie portrays his life in the motorcycle gang and beyond in the the solo stage production, “Outlaw.”

The play, based on Christie’s television show, “Outlaw Chronicles” and book, “Exile on Front Street,” conveys what motivated Christie to make the life decisions he made.

Despite the life of crime and danger, Christie said he would still do it all again.

“I absolutely would; it’s hard to teach an old dog new tricks I guess,” he added. “When I walked into [motorcycle club] culture, there’s nothing like riding one of those motorcycles you hand built.”