Riveside County Settles With Vagos Bikers

HEMET, Calif., Aug. 3 (UPI) — Riverside County, Calif., settled a lawsuit with the Vagos Motorcycle Club, admitting the bikers were not involved in attacks on Hemet police, officials say.

Riverside County announced the settlement in a statement Monday, The Riverside Press-Enterprise reported. The settlement consisted of no monetary payments, but rather a public statement and the return of Vagos member’s property seized in raids in 2010.

The statement referred to a press conference held last year by former District Attorney Rod Pacheco.

“Any emotionally charged or colorful remarks made by, or at the direction of, the former district attorney, Rod Pacheco, during the heat of the investigation which were expressly or impliedly offensive to the Vagos are unfortunate,” it said.

Pacheco led a string of raid on the Vagos March 17, 2010, and then held a press conference suggesting the motorcycle club was responsible for a series of attacks on Hemet police.

The Vagos filed the lawsuit in March, alleging Pacheco and other officials slandered the club, and asking for a public apology and $25,000 in damages.

“After a thorough investigation, the District Attorney’s Office is reasonably satisfied, at this time, that the Vagos International Motorcycle Club was not involved in the 2010 attacks on law enforcement officers,” the statement said.

“We’re all lucky cooler heads prevailed and saw fit do something righteous,” Vagos attorney Joseph Yanny said. “This was never about money, it was about clearing their good name.”