Hemet Police Clear Bikers: 'Remarks Offensive to Vagos Are Unfortunate'

Hemet police issued a statement Thursday absolving the Vagos Motorcycle Club of any involvement in a series of attacks on Hemet police in 2010.

"After a thorough investigation, the Hemet Police Department is reasonably satisfied, at this time, that the Vagos International Motorcycle Club had no involvement in the 2010 attacks on Hemet police officers," the statement says.

"Any emotional or colorful remarks made by the City during the investigation which were expressly or impliedly offensive to the Vagos are unfortunate," the statement says.

An attorney representing the Vagos, reached Thursday afternoon, declined to comment.

In March 2010, after a series of attacks on Hemet police involving booby-trapped firearms and explosives, law enforcement agencies and the Riverside County District Attorney's Office targeted the Vagos as suspects.

"Early on, one aspect of the investigation directed the attention of the Hemet Police Department and the various other investigating agencies to the group formally known as the Vagos International Motorcycle Club," the Hemet police statement says.

"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.

"Ultimately, two men who are not affiliated with the Vagos were arrested for and charged in connection with the attacks upon Hemet police officers," the police statement says. "They are currently awaiting trial."

The Vagos also call themselves Green Nation and consider themselves a one-percenter club. The first Vagos chapter formed in the 1960s in Riverside County, according to an online history.