Two men have been charged in connection with the February 7 brawl at Kenny B’s Blue Marlin in Dundalk. Maryland. The fight involved members of the Iron Order, Iron Horsemen and Chosen Sons Motorcycle Clubs.
Christopher Jansen, a former Baltimore police officer and a Chosen Son, was arrested on charges of first and second-degree assault, theft and robbery in the aftermath of the fight. Iron Horsemen Eric Lloyd “Animal” Calkins was charged with two counts of first-degree assault, five counts of second-degree assault, assault with a deadly weapon and strong arm robbery.
Jensen and Calkins accusers are former Orlando Iron Order member Timothy “Sentinel” Taylor and Baltimore Iron Order members Timothy J. Kielian, Seth Daniel Gerhart, James Charles Leblanc and John Anthony Hayes.
The Affray
The five Iron Order members were drinking in the bar with several women when Calkins entered and a fight quickly ensued. Jensen joined the fight after he entered and observed four of the Iron Order members hitting Calkins in the head with collapsible batons, Calkins is a veteran who suffered a traumatic brain injury during his military service.
The Iron Order is an enterprise that has branded itself as a “law abiding” motorcycle club in order to form an alliance with various police departments against other motorcycle clubs. According to the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. “many” Iron Order “members are police and corrections officers, active-duty military and/or government employees and contractors.” The purpose of this enterprise appears to be to claim territory and make money.
The Iron Order is very rich. For example, last year’s Iron Order national run cost $300,000.
After the Iron Order provokes a confrontation with members of another motorcycle club, they immediately request the assistance of the police and cooperate in the prosecution of their adversaries. In some instances, the Iron Order has requested the assistance of police before insigating a confrontation with another motorcycle club. The Iron Order has been involved in at least two gun fights in the last year. In a statement made before the murder of Black Piston Zachariah Tipton last year in Jacksonville Beach, Iron Order Vice-President Michael “Cgar” Crouse said, “I know our club has the advantage. One percenters won’t call the cops. So what the fuck, destroy any fucker that confronts you. It’s a free ticket….”
Mutual Combat
The brawl in the Blue Marlin was an obvious example of “mutual combat.” The Tenth edition of Black’s Law Dictionary defines mutual combat as “A consensual fight on equal terms – arising from a moment of passion but not in self-defense – between two persons armed with deadly weapons.”
“Mutual combat” is a common law defense and it is permissible in Maryland.
In a 2010 case titled State of Iowa v Christopher Spates, the Supreme Court of Iowa noted: “Mutual combat is more than a reciprocal exchange of blows. It requires a mutual intention, consent, or agreement preceding the initiation of hostilities. A charge on mutual combat is warranted only when the combatants are armed with deadly weapons and mutually agree to fight. Thus, an express or tacit agreement to engage in violence, while sufficient, is not required; it is enough that there was a concurrent or mutual expectation that a street battle would ensue….”
“To constitute mutual combat there must exist a mutual intent and willingness to fight and this intent may be manifested by the acts and conduct of the parties and the circumstances attending and leading up to the combat.”