Published Thursday, Nov. 12, 2015 | 10:14 a.m.
Updated Thursday, Nov. 12, 2015 | 12:01 p.m.
A Nevada lawyer who represents motorcycle clubs has filed a federal civil rights, false arrest and negligence lawsuit against Metro Police after he was acquitted in March of a misdemeanor obstruction charge.
Stephen Stubbs alleges that a Las Vegas practice of harassing motorcycle club members led to his arrest in November 2013, and that being found not guilty by a local judge showed the arrest was improper.
Stubbs said he was prevented from representing a Bikers for Christ member who was being questioned by police about a traffic violation outside a motorcycle ministry meeting. Stubbs said Kevin Desmairas had a constitutional right to have an attorney present during questioning.
Desmairas also is a plaintiff in the lawsuit filed Wednesday by attorney Cal Potter. It seeks at least $75,000 in damages from the department and a police lieutenant, Yasenia Yatomi.
Officer Larry Hadfield said the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department doesn't comment on litigation.
Yatomi didn't immediately respond to a message left with Hadfield.
Stubbs is representing members of biker groups, including the Mongols, Vagos, Stray Cats and Bandidos in a federal civil rights complaint filed in June 2012 alleging harassment by Las Vegas and other area police. The lawsuit is pending in U.S. District Court in Las Vegas.
It was filed a day after a meeting of Mongols national leaders in Boulder City was monitored by hundreds of local and state police and federal agents.
Stubbs characterizes the bikers he represents as members of fraternal organizations of motorcycle enthusiasts, while state and federal law enforcement generally characterize the groups as outlaw criminal enterprises.
Stubbs was sentenced last month to 18 months of probation after pleading guilty in Las Vegas to unlawful notarization of a signature in a misdemeanor case stemming from a client guilty plea agreement.
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