By Sunday afternoon, the Laughlin River Run was winding down.
Vendors folded up their tables, bikers loaded their motorcycles onto trailers, and the parking lots -- packed with thousands of motorcycles just hours earlier -- were starting to clear out.
Michelle Little and her husband Dave, of San Diego, packed up their Harley-Davidson motorcycle in the Edgewater's parking lot, their faces browned by the sun.
Michelle Little said the River Run was more than a motorcycle rally -- it was a chance to remember her father, who died in January.
"For years before he died, he (my father) had been telling Dave that he would leave him his Harley in his will," she said. "We didn't really believe it, but he was serious. He left Dave his Harley and here we are in his honor."
Police said the crowd was well-behaved at this year's River Run, the 22nd annual event. The event has had an increased police presence since the 2002 rally, when three men were killed in a brawl and shootout between rival motorcycle gang members at Harrah's.
By Sunday morning, police had arrested 118 people -- including nine felony arrests -- most on alcohol-related charges, traffic violations and other disturbances, police said.
Metro Police spokesman Sgt. Rick Barela said the number of arrests was low considering an estimated 60,000 people attended the event.
"It's not unusual to have these disturbances over a five-day event with alcohol involved," he said.
Debbie and Tony Ragnelli of Santa Clarita, Calif., like the Littles first-timers at the event, said they planned to make River Run an annual adventure.
Debbie Ragnelli pointed out her newly painted black helmet, featuring pink and green flowers and her nickname, "Lil' Rags," in white cursive lettering.
"I just got this done at a shop nearby," she said. "Our group got matching jackets too."
Ragnelli, a bank teller who declined to give her age, said that a week at the the River Run made her feel young again.
"We went to the Lynyrd Skynyrd concert Friday night," she said. "This whole time I've just felt like I was 18 again. We can't wait to come back next year."
Vendors enjoyed brisk business as attendees bought T-shirts, do-rags, leather chaps and other motorcycle paraphernalia.
Waitresses, bartenders and cocktail servers at the Flamingo sported T-shirts designed by the Bad Pig company in celebration of the River Run.
"Sales have been really great," said Brian Olea, president and owner of Bad Pig. "The whole event has been great to us."
Olea, who has attended the event each year since 1999, said his only complaint was that the police were "harassing people for ridiculous things."
"I've heard a lot of complaints about the police this year," he said. "They've been harassing people over petty things like pulling them over for not wearing their clear glasses at night and things like that."
Olea said it is important to have a police presence, but "ridiculous" for security to "get on people for the petty stuff."
"It's very important for the police to have a very visible presence," he said. "And they did a good job with that. But they need to stop harassing people because it's driving them away."
Vendor Jessica Menendez, owner of Buff Wear, known for making headwear for the reality TV show "Survivor," said she appreciated the security, especially since the deadly brawl in 2002.
"I think in today's society and especially what happened two years ago, people really appreciate the security," she said.
Tony Ragnelli said he too appreciated the police presence at the event.
"I didn't see a problem at all with the cops," he said. "As long as you behave, they didn't sweat you at all."
Michelle Little agreed.
"No problems with the police at all," she said. "They were here, did their job and let us have fun."
Little said while the 2002 deadly brawl didn't worry her, the added security made people feel safer.
"Well, I wasn't worried about what happened two years ago because I think that kind of thing could happen anywhere," she said. "I haven't seen any problems, but that may be because of all the police here."
Las Vegas Metro Police Officer Jose Montoya said he was happy with the officers assigned to the event.
"I think they did a great job," he said. "There were no major problems. Their presence was really there and it was a successful year."
The 320 officers working the event had their hands full at times, Barela said.
Between Wednesday and Sunday, a total of 18 motorcycles were stolen, with 10 of them recovered.
"Mainly, there were a lot of disturbance-related things, misdemeanor batteries, DUIs, domestic batteries and that kind of thing," he said. "Not too many bikes stolen, most recovered."
Overall the event ran smoothly, Barela said.
"The crowd was very well-behaved, vendors seemed to have a lot of business, the concerts were packed and it just turned out to be a really, really good event."
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