OFF THE WIRE
http://www.mercurynews.com/bay-area-news/ci_18976553?nclick_check=1
Nevada Police stay alert after biker shooting
Associated Press
SPARKS, Nev. -- Heavy police presence and a state of emergency continued through Sunday afternoon during the final day of a motorcycle festival in Reno and Sparks, after a San Jose Hells Angels boss was shot dead on Saturday.
Authorities in Sparks lifted a state of emergency at 5 p.m. Sunday after Mayor Geno Martini said there were no further incidents at the festival.
That city had initially declared the emergency and canceled all festival events Saturday morning after a shooting that appeared to be in retaliation for Friday's death of Jeffrey "Jethro" Pettigrew, the 51-year-old head of the motorcycle gang's San Jose chapter.
Pettigrew, a city of San Jose transportation employee, was killed Friday in a shootout at John Ascuaga's Nugget hotel-casino. Two California members of the Vagos Motorcycle Club were also wounded in the fight that sent hotel guests and gamblers scrambling under tables and through the hotel's kitchen to escape the violence.
Hells Angels member Cesar Villagrana, 36, of Gilroy was arrested in connection with the casino shooting on suspicion of assault with a deadly weapon and possession of a stolen firearm. Police said he was videotaped shooting into the crowd, but could not verify if any of his shots hit the victims.
Martini said the festival cancellations were necessary because of the thousands of people, including children, who attend the event. This year's attendance was expected to approach 30,000 people in Sparks, Reno and Virginia City.
"The safety and security of event attendees in Sparks is a priority," Martini said. "The individuals who engaged in the violence do not in any way reflect the majority of the event attendees."
Events were allowed to continue in Reno, although city spokesman Chris Good said police -- along with state and federal authorities -- were not only on the streets in significant numbers but also had undercover officers in the crowds.
In a statement released Sunday afternoon, Sparks police said they were looking for witnesses to the casino shooting but didn't have any updated information on a suspect. They were also investigating the shooting of a motorcyclist a few hours later.
In March, Villagrana was arrested in Santa Cruz County on gun charges after striking a car in front of him on Soquel Drive in Aptos while riding his Harley-Davidson, according to the California Highway Patrol. Officers investigating the crash reported finding a Beretta handgun wrapped in a bandana in Villagrana's possession. The gun was not registered to him, the CHP said.
He has been out of custody and making regular court appearances in Santa Cruz with his attorney, Michael Hingle of San Jose.
He pleaded not guilty in May to charges of carrying a loaded gun not registered to him and being an active Hells Angels gang member.
Villagrana's Santa Cruz case is still pending, Hingle said Sunday.
