The Kern County Sheriff's Office arrested the president and vice president of the Hells Angels and the entire chapter of the Bakersfield, California motorcycle club as part of an investigation into kidnapping, assault and robbery.
The Kern County Sheriff's Office Facebook Police said Tuesday that six members of an outlaw motorcycle gang were arrested earlier in the day on “various violent charges.” A seventh had already been detained on “other charges,” police said in a statement. “More than 150 officers seized approximately 25 firearms, ammunition, multiple high-capacity magazines and gang paraphernalia,” the statement said.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), the Kern County Sheriff's Office and the California Highway Patrol conducted a joint investigation, according to the statement.
They released the names of the men in police custody, including 42-year-old Ricardo Alvarez, 55-year-old Armando Villasenor, 57-year-old Joseph Soto Sr., 33-year-old Joseph Soto Jr., 31-year-old Joshua Zavala and 57-year-old John Seeger.
Joshua Vaughn, 37, is also affiliated with this chapter of the organisation and has been named as one of those already in custody.
QUINCY, IL – AUGUST 23: Members of the Hells Angels Motorcycle Club, along with their wives and friends, order dinner at a restaurant in Quincy, Illinois on August 23, 2003. The motorcycle club was in Quincy for a book signing and party honoring Sonny Barger (second from right/behind the camera), founder of the Oakland, California chapter of the Hells Angels. (Photo by Scott Olson/Getty Images)
According to a statement released by police, the investigation and subsequent arrest was only part of a police investigation, which also included eight arrest warrants executed at various locations in Bakersfield.
All suspects were charged with kidnapping, first-degree robbery, criminal threats, false imprisonment, assault with a firearm, participating in a criminal street gang, criminal conspiracy, witness or victim intimidation and elder abuse.
They are currently being held at the Kern County Sheriff's Office Lerdo Facility, according to the statement.
ORLANDO, FLORIDA – JUNE 1: The Harley-Davidson Motorcycles store displays the company's corporate logo at Disney Springs at Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida on June 1, 2024. (Photo by Gary Hirschhorn/Getty Images)
Two of the men arrested are active, patched members of the Bakersfield chapter of the Hells Angels Motorcycle Club, while the other two are members of the Sons of Hell Motorcycle Club, an affiliated motorcycle club that operates under the direction and command of the Hells Angels Motorcycle Club.(RELATED: Shocking video appears to show Ian Ziering shoving a motorcyclist during an alleged attack by a bikie gang)
Details about the victims connected to this investigation have not been released.
