By Bay City News Service:
A suspected member of the Hell's Angels motorcycle gang has been arrested for battery and committing a hate crime following an attack on a man in Santa Cruz on Saturday.
At around 2:30 a.m., officers responded to reports of a fight in the 100 block of Walnut Drive, according to Santa Cruz police.
Police made contact with a man who said he had been called a racial slur and punched in the face by another man, police said.
The suspect -- who was later identified as John Smith, 38, of Taft -- got into his truck and left the area after the attack, police said. Officers located him a few blocks away, lying in the back of his truck.
Smith and two other men allegedly had clothing and apparel indicating membership in the Hell's Angels, police said.
In a search of the truck, officers located a loaded 9mm pistol and a knife, police said. Smith was arrested for battery, possession of a firearm and hate crime.
Anyone with information regarding the case is asked to contact Santa Cruz police at (831)420-5820.
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