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Subscribe to RSSSAN FRANCISCO -- A Hells Angels member missing since October has been arrested on suspicion of gunning down a fellow member of the biker gang at a funeral for the local chapter's president, police said.
Steve Ruiz surrendered Saturday night after San Jose police surrounded his motel in Fremont, according to police Sgt. Jason Dwyer.
Ruiz, 38, had been the subject of a widespread manhunt since Steve Tausan was shot and killed during memorial services for Jeffrey "Jethro" Pettigrew on Oct. 15. Police believe that Ruiz shot Tausan when a fight broke out at the San Jose funeral, which was monitored by police.
Dwyer would not say what led officers to the Days Inn motel in Fremont or if any weapons were recovered, but added that Ruiz was considered "armed and dangerous."
A front desk clerk at the motel, Rey Bayangos, said Ruiz had checked in just two hours before police arrived.
"They used the phone at the front desk, called and asked him to surrender peacefully, and he did surrender," Bayangos said. "It happened all of a sudden."
Casino brawl
Tausan, 52, was one of 4,000 people attending services for Pettigrew, the president of the Hells Angels' San Jose chapter. Pettigrew was slain during a brawl with a rival biker gang in a Nevada casino on Sept. 23.
Police said Tausan, who was Pettigrew's close friend, and others confronted Ruiz at the funeral over his perceived failure to have protected Pettigrew during the casino melee, prompting Ruiz to pull a gun on Tausan.
A week after Tausan was killed, police stormed a house in Stockton but came up empty. Investigators also said in December that they had "credible evidence" that Ruiz, a former San Jose resident, had been seen in the city.
Ruiz was booked into Santa Clara County Jail. Dwyer did not have bail information or know if he had been assigned a court date.
The Ruiz arrest marks the latest development in a saga of violence between two rival biker groups -- the Hells Angels and Vagos -- which has led to multiple deaths and injuries.
Rivalry
The U.S. Justice Department has named both groups as outlaw gangs engaged in drug and weapons trafficking and other violent crimes.
Police have said they trace the rivalry to a push by Vagos into the northern coastal town of Santa Cruz, long claimed as Hells Angels territory.
Tensions flared when members of the rival gangs fought outside a Santa Cruz Starbucks in January 2010. Seven months later, in August 2010, the two groups exchanged gunfire, leaving five people wounded in Chino Valley, a northern Arizona town.
The Pettigrew killing -- coming 11 months after the Chino Valley fight -- in turn sparked tensions within the Hells Angels' ranks that led to yet another slaying in California, police said.
Vagos was founded in the 1960s in a Southern California desert community. The Hells Angels, which has over 230 chapters with an estimated 2,000 to 2,500 members worldwide, was founded in 1948 in Fontana, California.
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The Associated Press and Reuters contributed to this report.
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What is the world coming to when motorcycle gangs fight outside of starbucks?
Wow Now these motorcycle gangs kill people in their own gang, no honor among scumbags. . . . .
Maybe the young kids that idolize these guys will see that they kill their own. He was probably given up by his own people as well. So much for no snitching. They all snitch.
where is the GHOST RYDER when you need him
one down... and 2499 to go...
4000 people showed up.........I bet if they ran their names they could have picked up 3000 warrents. Opportunity wasted. Just think the police set around all them time trying to think up ways to get the bad guys to gather together so they can pick them up and voila..........here was that time.
Just how many cops do you think would be interested in that action! lmfao
nope... got to wait for them to make it back to the road house...and burn it down with their family's inside...go waco on them...
Q. Why is PETA so adamantly opposed to fur and not to leather?
A. Because it's easier to harrass rich women than motorcycle gangs.
gtouch - that's exactly how I feel about the illegal immigrants that protest about their "lack of rights" here in the US. why not send immigration officals to those protests? gathering them up and deporting illegals at a rally would be like shooting fish in a barrel.
jakester-only a "scumbag" would badmouth the dead who arent here to defend themselves. Steve(the man killed at the funeral) was a GOOD man and a good friend. More man than you could ever hope to be. Remember that only a "scumbag" would badmouth the dead. So F@#K You.
Hummmmmmmmmmmmmm I didn't know that the "Hells Angels" were that fond of Starbucks coffee!
support your local 81
408luvmustard, I didn't bad mouth the dead. I bad mouth the scumbags who claim honor among their gang and then kill their "brother". f@#k me? no f@#ka YOU
OH MUSTARD, I must ad someone who needs to be in a gang to feel like a man will NEVER be "more of a man" than anyone.
They are called Clubs not Gangs.I know many bikers.Just like politicians,attorneys,doctors,preachers,school teachers etc.You have the good with the bad. Yeah generally your 1%ers dont function "exactly" with the confines of the law.But hey they are what they are.We have a few small towns around here where the law is worse than the bike clubs and hide behind their badges.Dont get me wrong.What the majority of these clubs do is illegal,immoral,and prolly fattening(lol).But it is what it is. Many of these clubs do have a good side to them.One of the largest toy runs are sponsored by the Angels.Many MANY people have received medical treatment because of Poker Runs held to raise funds for them.No I aint defending the biker clubs nor the biker lifestyle.All I am saying is a broke clock is right twice a day.My husband is a retired patch holder.Little town club so no they werent like the main stream 1%ers.They did a lot of good in their day as well as raised a little hell.And no matter if the people are sinners or saints.Dead is dead and someone some where mourns their passing.We all have family that death has an impact on.I feel for those and for their brothers that feel the loss of all those that have died . And its true generally if you live by the sword,you die by the sword.Thats a fact they acknowledge when they patch in.God Bless the families and loved ones of the man that was slain.THEY are the ones truly hurting.Just my personal opinion. Not dissing anyone elses.
Thank you Tammy!
They can call their gang a club all they want. . . . . .as long as they keep killing people and doing other illegal crap they are a gang! If it quacks like a duck...well.... Its a frickin DUCK Einsteins
I like the part where the fight started outside of Starbucks. They were trying to use the Wifi. Hope no one broke their cell phone.
If all these kids enjoy pretending they're Old West cowboys, riding the range on their trusty steeds, that's fine with me. But when I or my family get caught in their gunslingin' crossfire when they have their little territorial spats, it's time to call the sheriff in and string these idiots up.
the cops are even worse and the fbi is nothing but a criminal gang with a good PR dept.
You and your family and friends have problems with the law zuksam?
Wonder why FBI and Homeland Security have not declared these motorcycle gangs and inner-city bangers as terrorists group. If they cause you to fear for your life or well being they are terrorists. They should be dealt with the same way we deal with other terrorist groups. Just like in Iraq & Afghan, set up a sniper post along the highway and pick them off, their colors make them easier to identify then the Taliban. Homeland Security is more comfortable searching children and old ladies in the airpoirt then dealing with the real terrorist on our city streets.
These gangs get attention because of their names. The black and hispanic gangs in your city are 10 times worse and kill thousands more every year. We would almost be crime free if not for the bloods and crypts here. The Hells Angels are not 14 year old with guns. But dead is dead right?
What ever happened to Spanky and the gang?? haha
If we can't even control ragtag motorcycle gangs ... folks ... how in the hell are we going to protect our borders????
ragtag motorcycle gangs...Hmmm...over 4000 at the funeral...in what world is that rag tag, They are well organized and are far from ragtag, And yes it did not say 4000 members but really how many ordinary people attend an outlaw biker gang leaders funeral
common sense dictates that we hire the motorcycle gangs to protect the Mexican border -problem solved!!!
@ brucev:??????? I don't get it, totally out of context....
brucev, Remember the Rolling Stones tried to hire the Angels as security for a concert in Altamont, Ca. To say the least it didn't work out so good! Gimme Shelter indeed!!
Hell's Angels are well organized, well funded, and they usually have better weaponry than local, State, and Federal police organizations.
Whats the problem? Leave them alone and they will leave you alone.
81 will figure it out.
Hell Angels have 230 chapters but only 2,000 to 2,500 members worldwide and there were 4,000 at the funeral? That doesn't make sense.
I caught that as well Sighber. That would mean there is only an average of 10 members per chapter.
LOTS of mirrors! (or multiple personalities)
It said 4000 people attending the funeral, not members. It does seem like a sparse membership though.
you got to remember reporters can not spell so how can they know how to count
ever consider that other folks, who are not members, would attend a funeral?
exactly which other folks would that be, Do you really think that people who did not know or were not connected to this guy attended the funeral.
reality check, If they were not all gang members they were related to gang members, Just because they were not wearing colors does not mean they are not involved in the gangs activities
Lost in PineBarrens...you have a very big misunderstanding of biker clubs!
Bryan, if you are going to rip on the writing by reporters, you might want to use correct punctuation and proper grammar!
You're missing a period after "spell." You're missing a comma after "So." And you say, "you got to?" REALLY?
99Mel,
No misunderstanding, I have no problem with biker clubs or car clubs or any other type of clubs, The Hells Angels is however not a club, It is a gang an organized criminal interprise dealing in drugs,weapons, racketeering and murders.
There you go Sighber, tryn to make sense out of the "news" on the internet. Just swallow the pill and go along...hope and change gooood....more gov't gooood...free health care goooood......etc,etc,etc.
@LostinthePineBarrens....
You do indeed have a limited knowledge about bike clubs - for starters, they are NOTHING like your local corvette club or MINI club, etc. (thank God).
They are a club, albeit, a very different kind than you know about. Matter of fact, those other 'clubs' are not clubs in the world of motorcycles....
@LostinthePineBarrens....
You do indeed have a limited knowledge about bike clubs - for starters, they are NOTHING like your local corvette club or MINI club, etc. (thank God).
They are a club, albeit, a very different kind than you know about. Matter of fact, those other 'clubs' are not clubs in the world of motorcycles....
Hummmmmmmmmmm
Probably 2500 members and family & 1500 undercover law enforcement! ... lol
Many people and bikers are friends and sympathetic too but not members.
Yea...Just because they are involved in the sale, manufacture and distribution of drugs, Illegal weapons and murders they are still just a club albeit a different kind of club as you say(thank god). I will repeat myself...The Hells Angels are a criminal organization , They are not "just" a motorcycle club.
This scum exists because of the excessive permissiveness and freedoms in our society. Deport them to N. Korea and see how they do. At the very least they will lose some of their excess blubber.
Airborn7 ok take it easy santorum !!! RON PAUL 2012!!!
And your point is....? Our permissive, free society is precisely what makes America different from the rest of the world. We don't need a Dick Chenney style fascist society. Congress should repeal the US Patriot Act immediately, because it is an assault on our individual rights and the Constitution.
What a jackass you are
It maybe that some motocycle gangs should be investigated, but most CLUBS are just freinds who ride and do charitable work.
Airborn7, N. Korea? I served my time on the DMZ, as well as Iraq, Afghanistan, Desert Shield. Desert Storm and Somalia. So I have earned the right to ride ito enjoy my freedoms. You on the the other hand may use the moniker 7, which in our world means your were a CO (Commanding Officer), but somehow your picture just shows a kid who in this permissive world who got his a** beat to and from school and never had a money for milk. Get a life. Just because you choose a "sheeple" life style dont hate on those who have fought for and enjoy our freedoms. Ands thats about as politically correct I can get, seeing as I only have a bachelors degree, am a US Veteran and the Preseident of a MC. Stay in your own world Airborn7!
Andy-1691103, I always thought that a "6" was the commander, "5" the XO and I am not sure what a "7" is. And yes I am a vet also, DS/DS with the 101st, 7/101, retired in 95.
Old Sarge, they actually need to repeal the RICO act and leave our brothers alone.
hook47d-I am sure you are correct. I was in the Marine Corps, and we used to call our CO Snake 7, XO Cowboy 6, Maintenance Hammer 8...this was just the norm while at both 1st and 3rd Tank Bn, 7th MEB.
Better yet get rid of the "rag heads".
kiss it airborn7 you dont have a clue. 81support!
Tensions flared when members of the rival gangs fought outside a Santa Cruz Starbucks in January 2010.
I'm sorry, I use to take these two clubs seriously! What were they fighting over... a spilled latte!
What everyone says matters . these criminals need to go away .
Gordy, these aren't kids but adults.
Sighber, not all of the people at the funeral were members.
Goitalone, 10 members max per chapter would preclude having to remove your biker boots for taking roll at their meeting.
They are fighting over territory. The territory where they sell drugs and guns to make money to support their own parties. The same thing happened in Chicago during Prohibition. Remember the St. Valentine's Day Massacre? I don't really care as long as they are killing each other and not innocent people. Illegal drugs and guns will always be with us unless the government decides to crack down by imposing tough sentencing laws for those who bring drugs into this country, sell drugs in this country, and for those who abuse our Second Amendment Rights. Then and only then will the crime rate decrease.
Actually, if they legalize drugs, the crime rate would decrease.
Come on the war on drugs has been so successful. Look at all the money it has cost us and all the money the criminals, cartels and gangs have made over the past 40 years. Hey wait maybe you're right.
Want to end the drug problem? Open up distribution points in all major metropolitan areas and give them away for free. The people that are in it for the thrills will go away because drugs are no longer illegal. The experimenters can do their experimenting with controlled doses, and the self-destructive idiots can kill themselves without having to steal my stereo in the process. Problem solved.
The best solution to this problem is to declare these useless to society scumbag thugs as terrorist organizations, send in special forces, and eliminate the pukes from the face of civilized society!
Good idea....you lead the charge for us !
Nah. Cheaper just to legalize drugs and watch the idiots od or get run over by Ms Suburbia in her SUV while talking on her cell and doing her makeup. They would disappear faster than the cartels.
W.T.F.
oh yeah starbucks, the rabid coffee thing, almost forgot about it.lol....
A lot of people continue to say it and say this often, "If the demand for drugs is so high then legalize them and then let people choose between drugs and sobriety." A lot of studies suggest we would end a lot of the violence and get people out of jail and working and paying taxes. This is why half this stuff goes on - gangs fight over drug turf and "revenege." If people know they can get safer products without the risk of going to jail then why not? I don't advocate the use of drugs but this sure seems the best alternative. Lets stop all the beaurocracy that doesn't work because we fight too many lobbyists who have some type of interest in illegal drug trafficking. Cmon folks we know there is a reason why drugs have not been taken out at their source. Small town police officers get threatened by Mexican drug trafficers like they own the place, so lets threaten them with a legal market and get them out.
That would cut the Govt out when they are raising funds for covert operations.
It would seem that way. There are enough troops in asscrackistan to destroy the poppy fields but they don't seem to be worried about that.
The real-life detective of the one portrayed in the movie "American Gangster" believes illicit drugs will always be illegal because or partly because (I forget which) there are a lot of jobs associated with fighting this kind of crime.
Damn white motorcycle gangs, always causin' troubles n shiznit......
what do color have to do with the issue.... if not a white biker or a black,Spanish,Cuban,if you are doing illegal things, you are illegal... and most bikers are legal about what they do, toys for tots didn't start with "Joe citizen" it was our biker community that started that and other Charity. that all bikers are scumbags is very closed minded and and very asinine.. alot of very rich people belong to bike clubs. some people who have alot of pull in business and politics. and alot of them are vetearns to boot.
This is true. Just because you enjoy a Bike does not make you less. I could have bought several cars for what I have in mine. Oh wait I have several cars already,, Ok so much for the clueless posters lets get back to the exciting sage of the Hell Angels.
How many Hells Angels are African American? I'm just sayin.....
Joao-2055346
Agreed. Also, consider how the size of government would shrink if drugs were legalized. That may have more to do with not legalizing than you know.
RackNStack,
"Can you say Egg McMuffin?"
Yes sir!
edd mcfluff''n...i tried...oh well...
i read all these posts they are good some say tougher laws on drug dealers war on drugs has been going on for
60+ years drugs fuel the economy medicines counselers police forces politicians weapons armor its never goin away face it other idiot claims these men as scumbags realize this moron many of the men in these organizations fought for your freedom in the armed servieces then came home to be spit on and treated like murderers these guys consider themselves gypsies social outcasts dont care about your rules people always fear and criticize what they dont understand i ride i love to ride and am unaffilatied but have been around many of these and other club organizations and took my son and wife around them also i admire some of these men for there contributions to this country and thank them everyday for the freedoms i enjoy a few bad people in a organization does not make everyone in it a criminal look at your elected officials and cast stones at them before you decide to suggest erradication of a organization that you probley know nothing about these men are the shepards they are not the sheep that follow ride on be free enjoy life before all your freedoms that you so enjoy are taken from you
I have no problems with these guys out riding their scooters, but being a vet, descended from vets who have returned from many wars I've never seen the need for anyone to cry about it ' you might not have gotten parades or pats on the back but that is not what you went for. As far as being put down and spit on well that predominately only happens in the movies or from a small group of people who didn't really matter much, you see most of those who would use that as an an excuse; and I've come across a few; it's just that, an excuse.
I fail to seehow one would admire an organization requiring commission of violent acts and felonies to get all the pieces of their little merit badges.
Indiana; 30 years ago or more alot of these guys did come home to less than good conditions and are due some respect.However the new crop of "club" members are nothing more than criminals with a built in network to use. Even 30 years ago in Cal the "clubs" were dealing as their primary source of income and assault was the common way to solve problems.They are now fighting turf wars just like the crips and the bloods and the cartels are doing
whats the difference between a hoover vaccum cleaner and a harley davidson ????on the vaccum,the dirtbag rides on the inside..
I have heard a little different version of that joke. The punchline I know is a Harley can support two dirt bags.
spiceman and thankyousoldiers......very funny joke. By the way i ride a Harley, am neither a clubber or a dirt bag. I guess you both ride vacuum cleaners.....Ef you
go say that to a biker. you don't have the balls I'm sure. you'd get your ass kicked
To all you cowards that have all this nasty @!$%# to say about bikers have the balls to tell one face to face and see what happens do not hide on your computer and yes vet here 71-79 and I ride a harley everyday.
most bikers are cowards....when was the last time you saw one in an altercation and not have a dozen buddies around to jump in?
@george,so you are a biker ?...well get a sense of humor."never take life too seriously,you"ll never make it out alive"!!!!
This for sure gives MC's (motorcycle clubs) a bad rep...but there are good ones out there. I'm sure this was more over a disrespect issue rather than drugs! Either way killing someone is not the solution.
There was a time when the Hells Angels were good. They werent all about all this gun running, drug trafficking, contract killings ect. They used to be all about doing good for people. Kids dying from terminal illnesses, kids needing organ transplants, giving those kids who had nothing presents, clothes, food. All by holding motorcycle rallies throughout neighborhoods where they were needed.
And where do you think they got the money for all these good works? Drugs and weapons trafficking.
So if someone disrespects you, you have permisison to shoot them? That sounds like the old west (eventhough it didn't really happen that way). I spent many years in the US military and we had rules, too. We didn't always get along, but we never raised a weapon against each other even under the worst of times. This is deeper than that.
No disrespecting others does not give anyone the permission to shoot anyone....sorry if thats what you thought i was implying. There is no excuse for any of their behavior. My point is that not all MC's are bad, there are ones that don't do the drug thing, that do rallies for children, that help out the community. I'd hate to see them all get a bad rep for the few that act out horribly.
So,Joao-2055346, Fragging is an urban myth? And it's not about disrespect?
sure am glad to learn poor people...don't kill each other...fighting the rich man's war...
Seems to me a "preemptive strike" is ok if somebody is scaring you. Wouldn't want to wait till they actually do something to you first anymore.
motorcycle gangs . more like wannabe tough morons. most people that own motor cycles are morons and want to be tough guys. what a joke aren't the hells angels in nursing homes. what a waste of time . most motor cycle gangs are gays group now trying to be tough.
Hey harrykid. How do you know most people that own motorcycles are morons?!?!? Most of us just like to ride. You may be the moron with that comment!
wow! Harrykid....Morons?? I'd like to say anyone that calls themselves HARRYKID must not be the brightest color in the box!
Exactly Harleyjack...most of us do just enjoy to ride! I do!
wow! varoom room. little bikey boys.
Hey, Harrykid. Did you have a bad day or something? All motorcyclists are morons? I take umbrage at that. I rode for fifty years, on three continents and with a lot of good folks, including some of the Angels and The Sons of Silence. The biker life style didn't appeal to me; basically I wanted to avoid trouble if at all possible. But, I will say the biker folk I knew were good to have with you when things went sideways and were loyal to their friends. That was my experience, you may have had a different one.
go tell one that they are a gay moron and see what happens oh that's right people like you only have balls hiding behind you computer
Wild Hogs !
Somebodys gonna shoot someone, somewhere! Whats the POINT! jeSUS! Bet if you shook all the people down at the funeral, you coulda filled a couple of coffins with guns! Only one shooting! Great Day!
Most countries outlaw such gangs for they are nothing more than organized
crime.We have laws on the books already but americans glorify these thugs.
They are not Peter Fonda, folk hero they are drug dealers you know meth,coke &
pills.
Believer-1054928... you say "Most countries"..? Like which ones, because Hells Angels ARE worldwide...? They are glorified all over the world it appears, not just here in the US... Which means you know not of what you speak it seems.
I think someone got their numbers wrong? There is certainly more HA's than that! More like 250.000 worldwide? And when i was in Ca back in the 70's you can bet the HA's owned Santa Cruz. I know, i used to prowl the beach and boardwalk there.
"there are"