WACO, Texas -- Three bikers arrested after a shooting involving police outside of the Twin Peaks restaurant in Waco, have filed lawsuits against local officials, alleging civil rights violations.
Bradley Terwilliger, Benjamin Matcek and Jimmy Dan Smith filed suit Friday in a Travis County federal court seeking unspecified damages, the Waco Tribune-Herald reported.
The suits name McLennan County District Attorney Abel Reyna, Waco Police Chief Brent Stroman, Waco police officer Manuel Chavez and an unidentified Texas Department of Public Safety agent as defendants.
Altogether, 10 bikers have filed civil suits alleging unlawful arrest and due-process violations after the May 2015 shooting that left nine dead.
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Members of the Bandidos, Cossacks and other clubs gathered at the restaurant for a meeting about the political rights of bikers.
Waco Police and SWAT were outside the restaurant when the shooting started.
That's when officers also opened fire.
Authorities believe a turf war may have been a factor in the shootout.
Following the shooting, 177 people were arrested and held for days or weeks on $1 million bonds on charges of engaging in organized criminal activity.
Bikers were taken to the Waco convention center for processing after the shootout and were told on the way that they were going to be interviewed as witnesses, according to a 430-page Texas Department of Public Safety report that corroborates what arrested bikers have told AP. But the district attorney's office decided late that night to arrest the majority of those detained.
DA Abel Reyna and his staff told authorities at the convention center that if a person was wearing a patch, clothing or insignia that indicated support for the Bandidos or Cossacks, he or she should be charged with engaging in organized crime, according to the report.
Since November, a grand jury has indicted 154 people on charges of engaging in organized criminal activity.
No trial dates have been set.
Continuing Coverage:
- Waco: A Year After Twin Peaks Biker Shooting
- Tuesday Marks 1-Year Anniversary of Deadly Twin Peaks Biker Shootout in Waco
- Biker Asks Waco Court of Appeals to Order Judge to Set Trial
- Dash Cam Video Surfaces of Waco Biker Shoot Out
- Grand Jury Indicts 48 More Bikers in Waco Melee
- Biker Asks Waco Court of Appeals to Order Judge to Set Trial
- Bikers Shot at Twin Peaks Restaurant With Police-Grade Firearms
- Final Person Held for Twin Peaks Shooting Released From Jail
- Source: Waco Police Bullets Hit Bikers in May Melee
- Texas Officials Under Scrutiny for Biker Shootout Case
- Texas Court Halts Ruling to Vacate Gag Order in Biker Case
- Judge Recuses Himself From Hearings Involving Waco Bikers
- Texas Judge Who Set $1M Bonds for Bikers Recused from 1 Case
- Waco Cop to Head Grand Jury Likely to Hear Biker Shooting Case
- Family of Slain Texas Biker Sues Restaurant for Negligence
- Judge Issues Gag Order in Waco Biker Shooting Lawsuit