Riverside County Backtracks Statement About Motorcycle Gang

Riverside County issued the following statement on Monday as part of a settlement with the Vagos Motorcycle Gang, which was once being investigated as part of a terror plot against the Hemet Police Department:

“In or around March of 2010, the City of Hemet, the District Attorney’s Office, the Riverside Sheriff’s Department and other law enforcement agencies were investigating a series of attacks upon law enforcement officers. Early on, one aspect of the investigation directed the attention of the investigating agencies to the group known as the Vagos International Motorcycle Club. At that stage of the investigation, there was a great deal of media attention on the progress of the case.

“However, further investigation led the investigating agencies in other directions which turned out to be more fruitful. Ultimately, two men who were not affiliated with the Vagos were arrested. Both have been charged in one of the attacks and one of the men has been charged in five of the attacks on law enforcement officers. Both men are currently awaiting trial. Several of the incidents remain unsolved.

“Nevertheless, 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. 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.”