KENNEWICK – The president and founder of the Tri-Cities chapter of the Gypsy Jokers motorcycle club and three members have been arrested in a raid in which methamphetamine was found, authorities said.

Percussion explosives were used as a distraction before the club’s compound was stormed about 5 a.m. Wednesday by about 50 members of the town-county-federal Violent Crimes Task Force and the Yakima and Benton county special weapons and tactics teams, Benton County Undersheriff Paul Hart said.

“It is an outlaw motorcycle gang with convicted felons who reside there,” Hart said. “We gear up to meet that threat.”

The SWAT teams searched all the buildings in the compound, finding an undisclosed quantity of meth, some stolen property and a couple of weapons, he said.

“Because of the large site … it makes it difficult to secure and make sure everybody is safe,” Hart said. “The Violent Crimes Task Force … developed enough information to believe there was stolen property on this property. They don’t have the manpower to effect a safe search warrant so they came to us to help.”

Ronald B. Campbell, 57, founder and president of the Gypsy Jokers chapter; Andrea G. Reeder, 43; Dylan C. Grose, 52; and William C. Casteel, 39, were jailed for investigation of possessing meth.

Casteel also was arrested March 27 at the compound on a warrant accusing him of failing to comply with court orders.