I.E. police blame motorcycle club of threats

MCs in the News

OFF THE WIRE
By Leanne Suter

MALIBU, Calif. (KABC) -- A motorcycle club in Southern California is fighting back against allegations that its members have repeatedly threatened the lives of police in Riverside County.

The attorney representing the Vagos Motorcycle Club says claims that the club members are involved in threats against the Inland Empire Police Department are simply not true.

The most recent threat against the Hemet Police Department involved an anonymous call to authorities Saturday saying that a black and white cruiser would be blown up. Hemet police heightened security through the weekend, but nothing happened.

In another case, a police building was booby trapped on two different occasions, and authorities say that they believe the Vagos club is to blame. Law enforcement cliam that the club is actually a drug dealing gang.

This week, Vagos members were targeted in a parole and probation sweep according to police. Authorities say that 30 members of the club were arrested, but the group's attorney Joe Yanny states that is not true and that no club members were arrested.

However, Yanny did say that search warrants were served at the homes and business of about a dozen members, but no one was arrested. Yanny said that the group is being harassed from law enforcement from local to state level.

"Enough is enough. We want to draw the line in the sand. We will use every legal means available to us to stop the terrorizing of the members of this club because as far as we're concerned, it's illegal without probable cause," said Yanny.

Yanny also said that the club is willing to go as far as a law suit to try to end the harassment. According to Yanny, members of the club will be speaking out later in the following week to clear up what is really going on in the Inland Empire.
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