Motorcycle clubs sue local police for alleged civil rights violations
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Members of several biker clubs claim in a federal civil rights lawsuit in Nevada that they've been systematically harassed by Las Vegas and North Las Vegas police. Video by ktnv.com
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Las Vegas, NV (KTNV) -- Several motorcycle clubs claim they're being harassed by law enforcement and they're suing them in federal court.
The lawsuit filed Monday on behalf of the Southern Nevada Confederation of Clubs accuses Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department Sheriff Doug Gillespie, along with the Metro and North Las Vegas Police Departments, and more than a dozen individual officers, of violating club members' civil rights. The lawsuit seeks nearly $12 million in damages.
Some of the incidents cited in the lawsuit include motorcycle club events being canceled at hotels and bars after the businesses were contacted by Las Vegas police. It also accused North Las Vegas police of breaking up a bike club meeting on private property.
Attorney Stephen Stubbs and Southern Nevada Confederation of Clubs President Guido Novicelli say the harassment has gone on for more than the two years the lawsuit covers. Novecelli says, "All we're really looking for is to be able to meet and have a good time and ride motorcycles without being harassed." The Southern Nevada Confederation of Clubs is made up of 41 groups. The Mongols, Vagos, Bandidos and Stray Cats are named in the lawsuit, which was also filed on behalf of 78 plaintiffs. Metro and North Las Vegas police don't comment on pending litigation.
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