Hell's Angels sue Justice Department, police agencies

The suit filed Friday in U.S. District Court claims Reno and Sparks police and the Washoe County sheriff's office are conspiring to harass club members.

The action, filed in the midst of the four-day Street Vibrations celebration attended by thousands of Harley-Davidson buffs, seeks to stop police from harassing Hell's Angels members and their friends.

The suit alleges false arrests and traffic stops on bogus charges as violations of the bikers' constitutional rights.

It also demands local, state and federal governments investigate the alleged police misconduct and properly train their officers.

Officials for the police and sheriff's departments had no comment on the case Friday. The FBI said its comment would be its response filed with the court.

"The merits of the case or lack thereof will be determined in court proceedings," said sheriff's department spokesman Deputy Scott Shields.

On Saturday, a marked sheriff's cruiser and a Reno police vehicle were parked in a median on Kietzke Lane opposite the entrance to Easy Riders of Reno.

Uniformed officers sat in the vehicles, videotaping scores of bikers congregated in the parking lot of the motorcycle repair business.

Friday's suit also names Sierra Pacific Power Co. for allegedly allowing a surveillance camera to be put on a power pole outside the Hell's Angels club headquarters in Sparks.

Troy Regas' home serves as the Hell's Angels clubhouse, according to the lawsuit.

He claims federal officers told him that his probation would be revoked if he didn't remove the club insignia from the side of his home.

Other incidents cited in the lawsuit involved Hell's Angels being stopped, allegedly because of symbols worn on their jackets.

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