Earnest “Bama” Edwards, a known leader of the Bloods street gang arrested at a notorious East Broadway nightclub

Gangbanger was arrested at a notorious East Broadway nightclub early Saturday morning, after hiding from police for days.Sheriff’s deputies, village police and state troopers said they found Earnest “Bama” Edwards, a known leader of the Bloods street gang, hanging out in the back of the Cinco Estrella Club about 2:30 a.m. Edwards, 26, was wanted on a felony warrant for brandishing a handgun at another man on Broadway last Tuesday.Edwards disappeared into the crowd when he saw police inside the club. He had been wearing an oversized red sweatshirt, but when police next spotted Edwards trying to sneak out of the club he had ditched the sweatshirt for a blue shirt, police said.The wanted man put up a 10-minute fight when police tried to cuff him. Edwards shoved, bit and threw punches at officers who used a Taser and pepper spray to subdue him.“My guys said it was one of the worst fights they’ve ever seen,” said Monticello police Sgt. Mark Johnstone.The fight escalated when Edwards began shouting what police believe were gang commands, prompting others in the club to throw bottles and food at the officers. None of the others was arrested.The Sheriff’s Office charged Edwards with resisting arrest and then turned him over to Monticello police, who were after him on weapon possession and menacing charges. He was being held in police lockup. Edwards had been released Dec. 1 from a New Jersey jail after serving six months on a drug charge.Many violent incidents in Monticello had centered around Edwards these past four years, including several shootings and a tussle with police. The Cinco Estrella nightclub has also been a nest of violence. Over the past two years, police have responded to the club for several gang-related stabbings and beatings.

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