BREAKING NEWS: Charges filed in biker gang shooting

OFF THE WIRE
By Lisa Irish
The Daily Courier

UPDATE, 9:51 p.m.:

The Yavapai County Attorney released charges Wednesday against nine individuals in the shooting between rival motorcycle gangs the Hells Angels and the Vagos this past Saturday in an unincorporated area northwest of Chino Valley.

"We're not going to comment because it is an ongoing investigation and case," said Penny Cramer, administrative assistant to the Yavapai County Attorney.

Shortly after noon Saturday, several people called 911 to report more than 50 shots fired at a home on Yuma Drive between Road 3 and Road 4 North.

Yavapai County Sheriff's Office deputies, SWAT teams, and helicopters circled the home at 2670 Yuma Drive used by Hells Angels gang members and a home a few blocks away at 2920 Yuma Drive used by rival Vagos gang members, which is now up for a trustee sale on Nov. 2.

The five suspects YCSO deputies booked into the Yavapai County Jail in Camp Verde and who remain there are John Anthony Bernard, 44; Kiley Steven Hill, 39; Robert Edward Kittredge, 36; Bruce Andrew Schweigert Sr., 46; and Larry Dean Scott Jr., 47, said Deputy Scott Reed, spokesman for the Yavapai County Sheriff's Office.

Each of the five suspects is being held on a $75,000 bond, Reed said.

Officials may be able to release where the suspects are from and their gang affiliation sometime Thursday.

The two rival motorcycle gangs may have shot at each other after one gang allegedly stole a motorcycle from a member of the other gang, according to a woman who lives in the area who spoke to reporters.

Investigators continue to look into motives of all parties involved in the shooting, Reed said.

"We are still looking into all possibilities and underlying issues that led up to the shooting," Reed said. "It doesn't appear to be related to their drug business."

Deputies booked Bernard into the Yavapai County Jail in Camp Verde on charges of eight counts of aggravated assault, seven counts of felony disorderly conduct, and one count of participating in a criminal street gang.

Hill was booked into the county jail on charges of 11 counts of aggravated assault, three counts of felony disorderly conduct, and one count of participating in a criminal street gang.

Deputies booked Kittredge into the county jail on charges of three counts of aggravated assault, three counts of felony disorderly conduct, and two counts of participating in a criminal street gang.

Schweigert was booked into the county jail on charges of three counts of aggravated assault, three counts of felony disorderly conduct, and two counts of participating in a criminal street gang.

Deputies booked Scott, 47, into the county jail on charges of eight counts aggravated assault, six counts of felony disorderly conduct, one count of participating in a criminal street gang, one count possession of a dangerous drug: alprazolam, and possession of drug paraphernalia.

The four other people's names were blacked out on the charge forms sent out by the Yavapai County Attorney's Office.

"We cannot officially release their names until they are served for those charges or appear in Early Disposition Court," Cramer said. "Some have been bonded out or released on their own recognizance."

The Yavapai County Attorney requested that 17 defendants be released from the county jail on Tuesday since no felony complaints would be filed against them in this matter at this time.

The Yavapai County Attorney also moved to dismiss without prejudice two other defendants' cases, because there was insufficient evidence to proceed with the case at this time.

A least five people were injured in the shooting, and a medical helicopter took one person for further treatment in Phoenix.

"It was previously reported that someone left the scene with a gunshot wound, but we believe that person who left the scene did show up at the Yavapai Regional Medical Center in Prescott, where he received treatment for a minor wound," Reed said. "We don't believe there's anyone else out there injured that left the scene."

Several local law enforcement agencies assisted the YCSO Saturday.

"I'll defer comments to the Yavapai County Sheriff's Office; we just assisted the sheriff's office at the scene," said Commander Mark Garcia of the Chino Valley Police Department.

Prescott Valley police sent K-9 officers to help YCSO at the scene, said Sgt. Brandon Bonney, spokesman for the Prescott Valley Police Department.

At 7 p.m. Saturday, Prescott Valley police K-9 "Bojar" and his handler Officer Keven O'Hagan assisted with a protective sweep of the home used by the Hells Angels, Bonney said. "Bojar," who is trained in explosives detection, can search a building before officers enter to find any hidden dangers that could lead to an officer being injured or killed during a search, Bonney said.

Prescott police assisted the sheriff's office by responding to calls in the county areas in Prescott, said Lt. Andy Reinhardt, spokesman for the Prescott Police Department.

UPDATE, 5:08 p.m.:

The Yavapai County Attorney released charges Wednesday against nine individuals in the shooting between rival motorcycle gangs the Hells Angels and the Vagos on Saturday in an unincorporated area northwest of Chino Valley.

"We're not going to comment because it is an ongoing investigation and case," said Penny Cramer, administrative assistant to the Yavapai County Attorney.

Shortly after noon Saturday, several people called 911 to report more than 50 shots fired at a home on Yuma Drive between Road 3 and Road 4 North.

Yavapai County Sheriff's Office deputies, SWAT teams and helicopters circled the home at 2670 Yuma Drive used by Hells Angels gang members and a home a few blocks away at 2920 Yuma Drive used by rival Vagos gang members.

The five suspects YCSO deputies booked into the Yavapai County Jail in Camp Verde who remain there are John Anthony Bernard, 44; Kiley Steven Hill, 39; Robert Edward Kittredge, 36; Bruce Andrew Schweigert Sr., 46; and Larry Dean Scott Jr., 47, said Deputy Scott Reed, spokesman for the Yavapai County Sheriff's Office.

Each of the five suspects is being held on a $75,000 bond, Reed said.

Investigators are still working to determine gang affiliation and motives of all parties involved in this event, Reed said.

Additional information will be made public as it becomes available for release, Reed said.

Yavapai County Sheriff's deputies booked Bernard into the Yavapai County Jail in Camp Verde on charges of three counts of using a deadly weapon to cause physical injury, five counts of using a deadly weapon to place a person in reasonable apprehension of imminent physical injury, aggravated assault with a weapon in association with a criminal street gang, and seven counts of reckless discharge of a weapon.

Hill was booked into the county jail on charges of three counts of using a deadly weapon to cause physical injury, three counts of reckless discharge of a weapon, inciting others to engage in violence to promote the objectives of a criminal street gang, aggravated assault with a weapon in association with a criminal street gang, two counts of using a deadly weapon to cause physical injury, six counts of using a weapon to place a person in reasonable apprehension of imminent physical injury, aggravated assault with a weapon in association with a criminal street gang, and seven counts of reckless discharge of a weapon.

Deputies booked Kittredge into the county jail on charges of three counts of using a deadly weapon to place a person in reasonable apprehension of imminent physical injury, three counts of reckless discharge of a weapon, inciting others to engage in violence to promote the objectives of a criminal street gang, and aggravated assault with a weapon in association with a criminal street gang.

Schweigert was booked into the county jail on charges of three counts of using a deadly weapon to place a person in reasonable apprehension of imminent physical injury, three counts of reckless discharge of a weapon, inciting others to engage in violence to promote the objectives of a criminal street gang, and aggravated assault with a weapon in association with a criminal street gang.

Deputies booked Scott into the county jail on charges of two counts of using a deadly weapon to cause physical injury, six counts of using a deadly weapon to place a person in reasonable apprehension of imminent physical injury, aggravated assault with a weapon in association with a criminal street gang, seven counts of reckless discharge of a weapon, possession of a dangerous drug: alprazolam, and possession of drug paraphernalia.

The four other people's names were blacked out on the charge forms sent out by the Yavapai County Attorney's office.

"We cannot officially release their names until they are served for those charges or appear in Early Disposition Court," Cramer said. "Some have been bonded out or released on their own recognizance."

The Yavapai County Attorney requested that 17 defendants be released from the county jail on Tuesday since no felony complaints would be filed against them in this matter at this time.

The Yavapai County Attorney also moved to dismiss without prejudice two other defendants' cases because there was insufficient evidence to proceed with the case at this time.

The two rival motorcycle gangs may have shot at each other after one gang allegedly stole a motorcycle from a member of the other gang, according to a woman who lives in the area who spoke to reporters.

At least five people were injured, and a medical helicopter took one person for further treatment in Phoenix.

"It was previously reported that someone left the scene with a gunshot wound, but we believe that person who left the scene did show up at the Yavapai Regional Medical Center in Prescott, where he received treatment for a minor wound," Reed said. "We don't believe there's anyone else out there injured that left the scene."

Several local law enforcement agencies assisted the YCSO Saturday.

"I'll defer comments to the Yavapai County Sheriff's Office; we just assisted the Sheriff's Office at the scene," said Commander Mark Garcia of the Chino Valley Police Department.

Prescott Valley police sent K-9 officers to help YCSO at the scene, said Sgt. Brandon Bonney, spokesman for the Prescott Valley Police Department.

Prescott police assisted the Sheriff's Office by responding to calls in the county areas in Prescott, said Lt. Andy Reinhardt, spokesman for the Prescott Police Department.
ORIGINAL REPORT, 1:55 p.m.:

The Yavapai County Attorney released charges against nine individuals in the shooting between rival motorcycle gangs the Hells Angels and the Vagos on Saturday in an unincorporated area of the county northwest of Chino Valley.

Shortly after noon Saturday, several people called 911 to report more than 50 shots fired at a home on Yuma Drive between Road 3 and Road 4 North in Chino Valley.

Officers from many local and state law enforcement agencies assisted Yavapai County Sheriff's Office deputies, SWAT teams and helicopters that circled the home at 2670 Yuma Drive used by Hells Angels gang members and a home a few blocks away at 2920 Yuma Drive used by rival Vagos gang members.

"We're not going to comment, because it is an ongoing investigation and case," said Penny Cramer, administrative assistant to the Yavapai County Attorney.

Yavapai County Sheriff's deputies booked John Anthony Bernard into the Yavapai County Jail in Camp Verde on charges of three counts of using a deadly weapon to cause physical injury, five counts of using a deadly weapon to place a person in reasonable apprehension of imminent physical injury, aggravated assault with a weapon in association with a criminal street gang, and seven counts of reckless discharge of a weapon.

Kiley Steven Hill was booked into the county jail on charges of three counts of using a deadly weapon to cause physical injury, three counts of reckless discharge of a weapon, inciting others to engage in violence to promote the objectives of a criminal street gang, aggravated assault with a weapon in association with a criminal street gang, two counts of using a deadly weapon to cause physical injury, six counts of using a weapon to place a person in reasonable apprehension of imminent physical injury, aggravated assault with a weapon in association with a criminal street gang, and seven counts of reckless discharge of a weapon.

Deputies booked Robert Edward Kittredge into the county jail on charges of three counts of using a deadly weapon to place a person in reasonable apprehension of imminent physical injury, three counts of reckless discharge of a weapon, inciting others to engage in violence to promote the objectives of a criminal street gang, and aggravated assault with a weapon in association with a criminal street gang.

Bruce Andrew Schweigert, Sr. was booked into the county jail on charges of three counts of using a deadly weapon to place a person in reasonable apprehension of imminent physical injury, three counts of reckless discharge of a weapon, inciting others to engage in violence to promote the objectives of a criminal street gang, and aggravated assault with a weapon in association with a criminal street gang.

Deputies booked Larry Dean Scott, Jr. into the county jail on charges of two counts of using a deadly weapon to cause physical injury, six counts of using a deadly weapon to place a person in reasonable apprehension of imminent physical injury, aggravated assault with a weapon in association with a criminal street gang, seven counts of reckless discharge of a weapon, possession of a dangerous drug: alprazolam, and possession of drug paraphernalia.

The four other people's names were blacked out on the charge forms sent out by the county attorney's office.

"We cannot officially release their names until they are served for those charges or appear in Early Disposition Court," Cramer said. "Some have been bonded out or released on their own recognizance."

Some suspects have a high bond and most likely will not bond out, said Steve Skurja, spokesman for the Yavapai County Sheriff's Office.

The Yavapai County Attorney requested that 17 defendants be released from the county jail on Tuesday since no felony complaints would be filed against them in this matter at this time.

The Yavapai County Attorney also moved to dismiss without prejudice two other defendants' cases, because there was insufficient evidence to proceed with the case at this time.

The two rival motorcycle gangs may have shot at each other after one gang allegedly stole a motorcycle from a member of the other gang, according to a woman who lives in the area who spoke to reporters.

However, Dwight D'Evelyn, spokesman for the Yavapai County Sheriff's Office, said the cause of the shooting remains under investigation.

A least five people were injured, a medical helicopter took one person for further treatment in Phoenix, and law enforcement are seeking another injured person they think gang members took from the scene.