Vagos Motorcycle Club

DA, Sheriff joust on radio

LAKEPORT -- District Attorney Don Anderson and Sheriff Frank Rivero traded radio appearances on KPFZ 88.1 FM on Saturday, continuing the public discourse of several recent law enforcement controversies.

Anderson sat as a guest on the morning show "Saturday Salon," hosted by Catherine and Steve Elias, to discuss his community service diversion program.

Anderson's program allows eligible defendants who live out of the county to donate to a Lake County charity or nonprofit a dollar amount corresponding to the work required by the community service hours in their sentence. One such defendant chose KPFZ as a local recipient, a move the station recognized during the Elias' show.

During the appearance, Anderson addressed his office's investigation into two recent incidents involving the Lake County Sheriff's Office (LCSO) and other agencies.

"This investigation is not singled out on any one person or any one organization. It is simply a fact-finding investigation to find out exactly what happened in two specific instances," Anderson said.

One incident was the May 14 gathering of Vagos Motorcycle Club members in Lakeport.

Reports surfaced that day that more than 100 Hells Angels Motorcycle Club members were en route to Lake County, possibly to confront the rival gang, resulting in officers being posted at county borders to preempt Hells Angels' members' entry.

No Hells Angels members appeared, but Anderson said he was "morally and legally obligated" to investigate law enforcement's response because attempting to prohibit the members' entry could have violated their state and federal civil rights.

"Just because you're a gang member don't mean you lose any of your constitutional rights," he said during the radio appearance.

The investigation seeks to determine "whether or not there was a conspiracy or an attempt to violate this outlaw motorcycle gang's civil rights," which, if true, could leave the county vulnerable to lawsuits, according to Anderson.

Rivero has criticized Anderson's decision to investigate the incident, saying during an appearance on KPFZ's "Hellbound Handbasket" last week, "It seems to me that he has taken a position that is somewhere left of the (American Civil Liberties Union) and situated somewhere between the ACLU and the American Communist movement."

Anderson addressed such public criticisms Saturday morning, saying, "If no one has committed any violation of any laws, then they have nothing to worry about.

To the Press and Public | Vagos Motorcycle Club Official ...

The Vagos Motorcycle Club is an organization of motorcycle enthusiasts who enjoy riding our motorcycles together, and socializing together.

We, the Vagos Motorcycle Club, have never been, nor are we now a criminal organization, or a criminal street gang. Whoever says that we are a criminal organization or criminal street gang is misinformed and mistaken.

We as an organization do not plan or engage in criminal activity. Furthermore, we do not condone criminal activity. We are not a gang.

Law Enforcement, the media, and bad B movies have all worked to vilianize, and portray members of all motorcycle clubs in a negative light, and to create a negative stigma with respect to motorcycle clubs.

Our club has been the victim of false and defamatory statements, and actions by law enforcement, in an attempt to portray us as a criminal gang, and even terrorist, none of which are even close to the truth.

Members of the Vagos Motorcycle Club come from all walks of life. Some of our members are honorably discharged veterans of the military, and some of our members are active duty members of the military.

Our members are no different from you, your family, your friends, or your associates.  We work in almost every profession imaginable; from construction to professional jobs.  We have supervisors, managers and owners of business as members.  We may look a little different when we wear our motorcycle gear and patches, but we are taxpaying citizens just like you.

Most of our members are family men with wives, children, and even grandchildren.

Many Chapters of the Vagos Motorcycle Club engage in charitable activities, such as providing toys to kids during the holidays.

Our charitable activities are not some kind of sinister cover as law enforcement tries to call it, but it is a genuine effort on the part of our members to make a difference in people’s lives. We engage in charity because we know we can make a difference, and we do make a difference!

The 1 Amendment of the United States Constitution, grants all citizens the freedom to associate with whoever we want, and freedom of speech.

Our members choose to be a part of the club, and to associate with each other, because all of our members share a love of motorcycles and the freedom associated with riding our motorcycles together, and socializing together.

The United States Constitution grants us this right, and we choose to excercise this right.

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