And another tip from Mike at Gold Iron:A Meade County grand jury indicted six men last week on charges related to the shooting. Arrest warrants were also issued for the men, at least three of whom are members of the Iron Pigs motorcycle club of police officers and firefighters.
They include Seattle police detective Ronald Smith, 43. He has admitted to shooting 33-year-old Joseph Patrick McGuire on Aug. 9 during a scuffle between the Iron Pigs and Hells Angels at the Sturgis bar.Smith, who has claimed he shot McGuire in self-defense, was briefly detained and questioned, then allowed to return to Washington. He was indicted on felony charges of assault and perjury.
McGuire, who was hospitalized and is reportedly recovering from his wounds, also was indicted for felony assault.
The four other accused bikers were indicted on misdemeanor charges.
As for next year's rally, (Sturgis Police Chief) Bush said he doesn't have special security measures planned. But he said he hopes the Iron Pigs decide to stay home."I hope to heck they don't come back next year," Bush said. "It would be really nice if they don't, because we're going to have Hells Angels," he said. "I guess one would think that there would be a problem if they get together again. I'd just as soon not have that."
AND:
The Seattle police detective accused of shooting a man during the Sturgis motorcycle rally will not face perjury charges in the case.
An FBI investigation has found that Ronald Smith, 43, used his own handgun, as he has claimed.
Smith has said he twice shot Hells Angels member Joseph Patrick McGuire, 33, in self defense Aug. 9 during a fight at the Loud American Roadhouse bar on Main Street in Sturgis. Both men face felony assault and other charges, and four other men face misdemeanor weapons charges in the case.
Smith's story was presented Aug. 10 to a grand jury reviewing the case. Meade County State's Attorney Jesse Sondreal said Friday that subsequent information and records, obtained from the Seattle Police Department by South Dakota officials, showed that the firearm was issued by the department and was not Smith's personal property.
That conflict resulted in the perjury indictment, issued Aug. 27, along with indictments for aggravated assault or an alternative of simple assault. Smith also was indicted for carrying a concealed weapon without a permit, or an alternative charge of failure to abide by a permit of a reciprocal state.
Since the Aug. 27 grand jury meeting, an FBI firearms trace and additional investigation by Seattle police proved that the handgun Smith used was his, lawfully purchased from the Seattle Police Athletic Association on Dec. 14, 2006, Sondreal said Friday.
Sondreal also has said that the ongoing investigation indicates that Hells Angels members started the scuffle with members of the Iron Pigs, a motorcycle club of police officers and firefighters.
Those suspected of being involved were allowed to go free. After the indictments, warrants were issued for the six, and Sondreal has said he expected all of them to voluntarily appear in court.
Charged are Smith; McGuire, of Imperial Beach, Calif.; Scott Lazalde, 38, Bellingham, Wash.; Dennis McCoy, 58, Seattle; Erik Pingel, 35, Aurora, Colo.; and James Rector, 44, Ferndale, Wash.
Lazalde and Rector are with the U.S. Customs and Borders Inspection at Blaine, Wash. McCoy is a precinct patrol sergeant in Seattle. They and Smith are members of the Iron Pigs.
Pingel's occupation and motorcycle club affiliation have not been listed by authorities.
Hmmmmmm, Pingles occupation and affiliation not listed. Ah well, maybe the authorities didn't ask.Add to Technorati Favorites
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