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San Bernardino chapter of the Hells Angels motorcycle club in connection with the death of a Yucca Valley man being investigated

Indio police are investigating the San Bernardino chapter of the Hells Angels motorcycle club in connection with the death of a Yucca Valley man.Indio police served search warrants at three locations in San Bernardino and Highland on Tuesday that they say John Rocco Vanderstine, 41, of Yucca Valley, frequented, Indio police spokesman Ben Guitron said.Police were searching for evidence related to the discovery in February of Vanderstine's body, which was found by the side of the road on Avenida 42 and Madison Street in Indio. He was found shot to death about 8:15 a.m. Feb. 2, after his body was dumped north of Interstate 10 near a senior citizens community.A search warrant was served by Indio and San Bernardino police and San Bernardino County sheriff's SWAT teams at 6 a.m. at what authorities say is a Hells Angels clubhouse in the 1800 block of Medical Center Drive in San Bernardino, said Indio police Capt. Mark Miller.Search warrants were also served at the homes of two possible Hells Angels members, in the 5100 block of Vail Lane in San Bernardino and the 26600 block of Sparks Street in Highland, Miller said.Police have not confirmed whether Vanderstine was a Hells Angel, but he was known to associate with group members at the clubhouse, Guitron said."What's puzzling is why he ended up in Indio," Guitron said. "We don't know if he was already deceased or if he was killed there."The Hells Angels originated in Fontana and San Bernardino in 1948 and have come under scrutiny by law enforcement across the country. Many authorities have said the group fits the criteria of a criminal street gang, while members have long countered it is a motorcycle club.Indio police have had motorcycle groups pass through the region, but have not had any major incidents with the group in 25 years, Guitron said.

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