WA corrections officer arrested in Walla Walla for motorcycle gang activity in Georgia

September 9, 2021 6:43 PM

By Dylan Carter

Posted: September 9, 2021 6:43 PM

WALLA WALLA, Wash. — Two men, including a corrections officer with the Washington Department of Corrections, were arrested Thursday morning for allegedly participating in violent gang activity in Georgia.

According to a press release issued by the Walla Walla County Sheriff’s Office, the arrests were made on the morning of September 9. Around 6:00 a.m., Dustin Wendelin was arrested at the Washington State Penitentiary in Walla Walla. Roughly three hours later, Charles Montgomery was arrested at his residence in Umatilla County, Oregon.

Each of these men was indicted in Griffin, Georgia on charges including Aggravated Assault, Aggravated Battery, and Violation of the Street Gang Terrorism and Prevention Act.

Additionally, these men are accused of holding leadership positions in the local chapter of the Pagan’s 1% Outlaw Motorcycle Gang—a national motorcycle gang that frequently participates in trafficking, racketeering, and violent crimes. Pagan’s members have been linked to bombings, shootings, homicides, and other felonious assaults across the United States in the last few months alone.

These arrests were made following a joint effort between the Walla Walla County Sheriff’s Office, the Spaling County Sheriff’s Office in Griffin, and federal law enforcement agencies. WWSO officials listed the following law enforcement agencies for helping their Gang Intelligence Team:

Spalding County Sheriff’s Office, Georgia
Milton-Freewater Police Department
Washington State Patrol
Hermiston Police Department
Morrow County Sheriff’s Office
Umatilla Tribal Police Department
Boardman Police Department
Pendleton Police Department
Washinton Department of Corrections Special Investigation Service
Portland Police Department
Seattle Police Department
Spokane Police Department
Georgia Bureau of Investigation
Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives
Drug Enforcement Agency
Federal Bureau of Investigation

These arrests are part of a large-scale investigation into activity by the Pagan’s OMG throughout the West Coast. Additional charges are pending and the investigation is ongoing.

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