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Members of the Mongols Motorcycle Club shake hands outside the Boulder City Inn and Suites as they hold their annual convention in Boulder City Saturday, June 23, 2012.
By Paul Takahashi (contact) 
Thursday, Oct. 18, 2012 | 6:01 p.m.
The Mongols motorcycle club is filing a complaint with the Clark County District Attorney's Office this week, alleging the Boulder City Police Department targeted its members for harassment and tried to destroy evidence of possible civil rights abuses during the club's national meeting in Boulder City this past summer.
Stephen Stubbs, a Las Vegas tax attorney representing the Mongols bikers, shared internal police department emails – which Stubbs said he had verified as authentic – Thursday with District Attorney Steve Wolfson to back up the Mongols’ allegations against Boulder City Police.
In one leaked email to City Attorney Dave Olsen and Judge Victor Miller, Police Chief Thomas Finn asked the court to adopt a "zero tolerance" approach in prosecuting any ordinance violations, traffic violations and other misdemeanors against the "Mongol Miscreants."
"As part of our zero tolerance approach, all the law enforcement agencies have asked if our court and prosecutor would consider 'no deals' when the misdemeanors are adjudicated," Finn wrote. "Doing so would make it clear to the 'Mongol Miscreants' that Boulder City does not tolerate bad behavior."
In another leaked email, Finn suggested to 31 city employees that they delete all emails related to their preparations for the Mongols gathering in June.
"If they submit a records request for them, it would obviously show our hand and divulge the strategies and staffing levels we need to keep confidential," Finn wrote. "Therefore, please delete any and all emails related to the event immediately."
Finn did not respond to requests for comments. City Manager Vicki Mayes, who is one of the recipients of Finn's email – declined to comment.
Stubbs argued that both emails are evidence of police profiling of Mongols members, which he said was in violation of their civil rights. Furthermore, Finn's request to delete emails is tantamount to destroying evidence that could be used in court – a gross misdemeanor offense punishable up to one year in prison, Stubbs said.
"Those (email) records belong to the public," Stubbs said. "This is a police chief who willfully is destroying evidence and is telling his department to destroy evidence."
The District Attorney's Office declined to comment Thursday afternoon.
This complaint represents the latest salvo in a months-long lawsuit against local police departments by the Southern Nevada Confederation of Clubs, a Las Vegas-based organization that includes 37 local motorcycle clubs.
The lawsuit – filed in U.S. District Court one day after the Mongols' national meeting in Boulder City in late June – alleges that members of the Mongols, Bandidos, Vagos and Stray Cats motorcycle clubs were "unlawfully targeted and harassed" by police officers from Boulder City, Metro and North Las Vegas over the past several years.
The motorcycle clubs’ grievances range from an arrest of a member on a false warrant and trespassing on a private event to questionable police stops and police brutality.
In one incident, a male police officer allegedly groped a female biker during a stop. In another incident, a police officer allegedly pushed a biker's head against a police car, detained him for more than an hour and slammed the car door on his foot, breaking it.
The suit, which was amended earlier this month to include more incidents, seeks damages of $75,000 on each claim for relief and also punitive and exemplary damages in excess of $75,000.
Stubbs, who represents the motorcycle confederation, said the quiet and calm Mongols gathering this summer demonstrated good behavior on the part of the bikers. The same could not be said for some of the police officers, he added.
"These bikers have the same constitutional rights as anybody else," Stubbs said. "It's offensive that some police officers would violate their rights, the same ones they are sworn to protect."
I thought the Mongols patch was now the exclusive property of the ATF and could no longer be used by the club???
Oh, now look who's whining, they shoot people in
the back then they complain, Boo Hoo.
Are their vehicles registered under a Montana Corporation?
@spdmrcht..."Oh, now look who's whining, they shoot people in the back then they complain, Boo Hoo."
I hear you.
I swear I will never figure out the cops in Clark County.
To my fellow bloggers,
I wouldn't hold my breath and count on our D.A. to take any aggressive action against the police officers named in the complaint. Just remember "Sgt. HeadKicker," and the diabetic reckless driving motorist incident. If the DA did not feel that those actions amounted to the criminal level, then I doubt that dribbling someone's head on a car hood and destroying computer emails is going to amount to all that much either, even under federal law. Until we elect people for our community leaders that are not bought and paid for, it is all a crap shoot whether or not the law will be enforced equally and fair. Just an old cop reflecting,
Gordon Martines.................curre.org.....
p.s. at least the police in Boulder City didn't have to hand out fliers that read "You are entering a WAR Zone", like the cops in Detroit are doing. We are just a couple of steps away from that happening here. God help us.
These cops are just a gang of thugs, and Gillespie wants to hire more of them I hope not.
Part of the problem remains in the level of maturity and professionalism of the various detectives, cops and agents - For example:
Cops can be immature and impressionable - The gang cops will adopt gang lingo, dress and lifestyle. Mafia cops adopt the lingo dress and lifestyle in a wannabee manner. Most of the OC cops have the pinkie rings, silk shirts and jogging suits in the closet - They use the lingo..."reach out" "Fagedabout-it" "Wack this and wack that" all with a thick New Yawk accent - Biker cops all have a Harley in the garage, Tatted arms and a closet full of sleeveless denim and black leather.
I think I have made the point - The Donnie Brasco Syndrome where cops live vicariously via the bad guys creates scenarios of civil rights violations and excessive force...and that comes from a "pack mentality". ATF Black Biscuit is a perfect example.
Next case please...
The existence of the "mongols club" is a civil rights abuse and should be treated as such.
Next time just let the Hells Angels roll in to Boulder City while the Mongols are there. Let a few bullets hit the whiners commenting on this site.Then you could sue instead of the Mongols because the police didn't do the job that you think they should have done. I guess everyone forgot about Laughlin and Sparks, how quickly we forget. This police presence was in response to the Mongols previous actions. If this would have been bikers against child abuse or another legitimate club, we wouldn't have even heard about it. Stubbs needs to just go away and fast. This shameless daisy put his whole city at risk for a little cash. I'm not sure you can sellout anymore than that.
"In one leaked email to City Attorney Dave Olsen and Judge Victor Miller, Police Chief Thomas Finn asked the court to adopt a "zero tolerance" approach in prosecuting any ordinance violations, traffic violations and other misdemeanors against the "Mongol Miscreants."
That such a cozy relationship exists between the cops, city government and a sitting judge is extremely troubling. It's called "ex parte contact" and it gets judges disciplined for tolerating a back door straight into their chambers. It's the appearance of corruption if not corruption itself.
"The existence of the "mongols club" is a civil rights abuse and should be treated as such."
Roslenda -- clarify please. Your post implies the fact the club exists is itself "a civil rights abuse."
"The legal system has also been wounded by lawyers who themselves no longer respect the rule of law ..... When lawyers cannot be trusted to observe the fair processes essential to maintaining the rule of law, how can we expect the public to respect the process?" -- the Honorable Edith Jones to Harvard's Federalist Club "American Legal System Is Corrupt Beyond Recognition, Judge Tells Harvard Law School" 2/28/03
I'm certainly not taking sides because the Mongols have a point....BUT.....thier past will probably always dictate thier future.
Killer: That's what I said and that's what I mean. I have LEO on my resume. They have no respect for the law, for women, for anyone else.
Actually Chief Finn confessed to a felony if his email is true:
NRS 239.300 Stealing, altering or defacing records, documents or instruments. A person who:
1. Steals, embezzles, corrupts, alters, withdraws, falsifies or avoids any record, process, charter, gift, grant, conveyance, bond or contract;
2. Knowingly or willfully, takes off, discharges or conceals any issue, forfeited recognizance or other forfeiture;
3. Forges, defaces or falsifies any document or instrument recorded or filed in any court, or any registered acknowledgment or certificate; or
4. Steals, alters, defaces or falsifies any minute, document, book or any proceedings of or belonging to any public office within this state,
E is guilty of a category C felony and shall be punished as provided in NRS 193.130.
"I have LEO on my resume. They have no respect for the law, for women, for anyone else."
Roslenda -- with "LEO on my resume" you should have a clue about what the First Amendment's Peaceful Assembly and Nevada's equivalent mean. Apparently you don't.
As I recall from the original reports the Mongols went out of their way to respect the locals and their city, starting with a town meeting explaining their intentions. Not to mention the economic boost they gave Boulder City.
"Indifference to personal liberty is but the precursor of the State's hostility to it." -- United States v. Penn, 647 F.2d 876 (9th Circuit, 1980), Judge Kennedy dissenting
Sorry again, no attorney, but Chief Finn is not profiling. The Mongols are known criminal organization. Anyone that thinks otherwise is a brick short of a full load. These people are outlaws, and outlaws are criminals. Funny how they try and use the law and twist it around to try and make a buck.
So the Boulder City Court wont make deals? Who cares, it is a court of non record! for $12.00 and a 1 page form, you get to appeal your "Boss Hog" conviction to District court. where it will most likely be dismissed by Gary Booker. Lets see boulder City get a court that complies with the NRS before they try anyone for anything!
@jaunsanchez..."The Mongols are known criminal organization."
So the criminal actions of former members is all it takes to condemn the entire group?
Oddly enough it is always cops like Finn who shout the loudest for us not to condemn an entire police department just because many of its members have been known to lie, steal, rape and kill with impunity.
I just love the smell of hypocrisy in the morning. It smells like.....
@Roselenda..."I have LEO on my resume..." I pray that you are referring to your astrological sign.
Because if "The existence of the "mongols club" is a civil rights abuse .." Is what passes for the intelligent thoughts of law enforcement, we are doomed.
Are you stating that if one is found guilty of "civil rights abuse.." then we can slam their heads into the hoods of cars and break their bones. Because I can think of scores of CURRENT Metro officers that need to answer to you.
For all of those that want to sit and attack the Club that is being talked about here, who are you to pass judgment? As far as I read you are saying they are bad because they have tattoo's, ride Harleys, and wear their colors, how do you know that one of them aren't your doctor, pharmacist, banker, Wal-Mart greater? You don't know these people on a personal basis but you want to throw judgment. Shame on you!
For the Chief of Police to do what he did is wrong. I was born and raised in Boulder City and as I was growing up we had a Biker Club that would come and stay in the kiddy park very year. They were some the nicest people we knew and looked forward to them coming back the following year. Personally I feel that what the Chief did was make Boulder City look stupid and that isn't fair to those who have called that town home for their whole lives, since he hasn't lived in that town long.
You also want to say how they are women beaters and whatever else you want to say about them, haven't you ever read the statistics on Police Officers? They rape, beat, kill also and they are the ones that are suppose to be protecting us and you are defending.
I don't want to get into a pissing match. I am just saying don't throw stones when you live in a glass house, you don't know these people and you don't have the right to judge as I am sure you don't want someone to pass judgment on you?
Have a good day!
You say it like its bad thing. The mongols and others can go elsewhere like Long Beach.