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Biker Club Sues Riverside County Law Enforcement For Defamation

RIVERSIDE (AP) — The Vagos Motorcycle Club has filed a defamation lawsuit claiming Riverside County law enforcement officials damaged their reputation by falsely linking them to Hemet police officer attacks.

Attorney Joseph Yanny filed the Superior Court lawsuit on Thursday says then-District Attorney Rod Pacheco blamed biker club members for the attacks to help bolster a June failed re-election bid.

Pacheco, Hemet police Chief Richard Dana and other law enforcement officials described the Vagos club as cockroaches and terrorists.

The Los Angeles Times says the two men eventually arrested for the police attacks weren't club members.

The attacks included diversion of a natural gas line into gang task force offices, torching of four code-enforcement trucks and a booby trap that fired a bullet at an officer opening a security gate.

(© Copyright 2011 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)

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