1 00:00:15,371 --> 00:00:15,890 Speaker 1: Pushkin. 2 00:00:18,930 --> 00:00:22,011 Speaker 2: Subscribe to Pushkin Plus to hear the entire season of 3 00:00:22,091 --> 00:00:26,371 Speaker 2: Valley of Shadows ad free starting January twelfth. You'll also 4 00:00:26,371 --> 00:00:30,091 Speaker 2: get bonus episodes, full audiobooks, and early ad free listening 5 00:00:30,211 --> 00:00:34,171 Speaker 2: from your favorite Pushkin hosts and authors. Find Pushkin Plus 6 00:00:34,290 --> 00:00:36,931 Speaker 2: on the Valley of Shadows show page on Apple podcast, 7 00:00:37,491 --> 00:00:41,251 Speaker 2: or at pushkin dot fm, slash plus, and thanks for 8 00:00:41,290 --> 00:00:42,291 Speaker 2: your support. 9 00:00:43,531 --> 00:00:46,331 Speaker 3: This series includes content that may not be suitable for 10 00:00:46,371 --> 00:00:52,691 Speaker 3: all listeners. Listener discretion is advised. Previously on Valley of Shadows. 11 00:00:54,691 --> 00:00:57,331 Speaker 4: At the time, the Yellow Valley was a sesspool, it 12 00:00:57,371 --> 00:01:01,211 Speaker 4: was a desert. It was known for manufacturing methamphetamine. So 13 00:01:01,211 --> 00:01:03,171 Speaker 4: people were getting busted left and right. 14 00:01:04,170 --> 00:01:07,170 Speaker 5: It was a little bit like the Old West in 15 00:01:07,211 --> 00:01:07,531 Speaker 5: a way. 16 00:01:07,571 --> 00:01:11,611 Speaker 6: I mean, this is a very unusual, strange place. 17 00:01:12,931 --> 00:01:16,771 Speaker 1: Rick Ingalls was a resident deputy what sorry the area 18 00:01:16,851 --> 00:01:20,491 Speaker 1: he lived in. He knew this area probably better than anybody. 19 00:01:20,731 --> 00:01:24,131 Speaker 7: Taknkle brings it up to my boyfriend, tell them R 20 00:01:24,291 --> 00:01:27,891 Speaker 7: Jay was on a job, ran across some pace, his 21 00:01:27,971 --> 00:01:30,291 Speaker 7: ship and ran across and he had to be taken 22 00:01:30,331 --> 00:01:30,651 Speaker 7: care of. 23 00:01:31,691 --> 00:01:32,771 Speaker 4: Maybe he was killed. 24 00:01:42,731 --> 00:01:45,491 Speaker 2: There's a musical road in the Antelope Valley that plays 25 00:01:45,491 --> 00:01:48,291 Speaker 2: the Lone Ranger theme song every time a car drives 26 00:01:48,331 --> 00:01:51,931 Speaker 2: across it, and we're headed there to hear it for ourselves. 27 00:01:54,211 --> 00:01:56,811 Speaker 4: So it looks like the Musical Road was the first 28 00:01:56,811 --> 00:02:01,611 Speaker 4: of its kind in the United States. There's like a 29 00:02:01,731 --> 00:02:05,731 Speaker 4: rumble strip and the grooves are spaced out in a 30 00:02:05,811 --> 00:02:07,091 Speaker 4: series of pitches. 31 00:02:08,531 --> 00:02:11,931 Speaker 2: You gotta hit them Musical Road just right. A steady 32 00:02:12,050 --> 00:02:13,691 Speaker 2: fifty five miles an hour? 33 00:02:15,331 --> 00:02:19,131 Speaker 4: Are you comfortable like going a full fifty five? 34 00:02:20,050 --> 00:02:22,531 Speaker 2: I mean, am I comfortable only going fifty five as 35 00:02:22,571 --> 00:02:27,291 Speaker 2: tich Yes, But in the spirit of Antelope Valley speed Demons, 36 00:02:27,531 --> 00:02:30,531 Speaker 2: I crank it up to sixty five miles an hour. 37 00:02:31,931 --> 00:02:33,451 Speaker 4: Okay, we're out in the desert. 38 00:02:33,811 --> 00:02:37,331 Speaker 2: We are surrounded by scrubland, the sun is on the horizon. 39 00:02:37,771 --> 00:02:42,531 Speaker 4: We're on our horse galloping into the distance. 40 00:02:42,691 --> 00:02:45,251 Speaker 2: And the Lone Ranger rides again. 41 00:03:00,371 --> 00:03:01,171 Speaker 4: Exhilarating. 42 00:03:04,651 --> 00:03:07,451 Speaker 2: The end of that really does slap like super complish. 43 00:03:09,771 --> 00:03:09,971 Speaker 7: Yeah. 44 00:03:09,971 --> 00:03:17,291 Speaker 2: That party legit for the Lone Ranger was first dreamed 45 00:03:17,371 --> 00:03:20,770 Speaker 2: up in the nineteen thirties for old timey radio listeners. 46 00:03:21,811 --> 00:03:23,771 Speaker 1: A moment later, a thunder of Boop time, a filver 47 00:03:23,891 --> 00:03:26,011 Speaker 1: with a Lone Ranger in the battle read into the night. 48 00:03:27,131 --> 00:03:31,051 Speaker 2: The masked cowboy restores order in an otherwise lawless place, 49 00:03:31,851 --> 00:03:32,771 Speaker 2: the wild West. 50 00:03:33,611 --> 00:03:34,891 Speaker 8: This is a raw frontier. 51 00:03:35,291 --> 00:03:37,211 Speaker 5: It must take a realistic attitude. 52 00:03:37,291 --> 00:03:39,691 Speaker 9: This is a place where mayhem, the theft, and murder 53 00:03:39,771 --> 00:03:41,211 Speaker 9: or the commonplace instead. 54 00:03:40,971 --> 00:03:41,731 Speaker 1: Of the unusual. 55 00:03:42,851 --> 00:03:47,851 Speaker 2: But this lawless frontier isn't just a trope in fictionalized westerns. 56 00:03:48,451 --> 00:03:52,331 Speaker 2: It's also the backdrop of John Aujay's disappearance in the 57 00:03:52,331 --> 00:03:56,931 Speaker 2: Antelope Valley, where cowboys and outlaws haven't given it up. 58 00:03:58,131 --> 00:04:00,851 Speaker 9: A car would race down the road shooting guns out 59 00:04:00,851 --> 00:04:01,331 Speaker 9: the window. 60 00:04:01,931 --> 00:04:03,891 Speaker 2: Retired Captain Mike Bauer. 61 00:04:04,131 --> 00:04:06,411 Speaker 9: And we didn't think anything of it, because we said, 62 00:04:06,531 --> 00:04:08,971 Speaker 9: Anelo Valley's kind of the Old West. 63 00:04:11,011 --> 00:04:15,371 Speaker 2: But the gunslingers riding roughshod over these desert towns ride 64 00:04:15,451 --> 00:04:23,291 Speaker 2: iron horses. Outlaw bikers travel in packs across the valley. 65 00:04:23,771 --> 00:04:26,731 Speaker 2: Their vests are emblazoned with names like the Hell's Angels, 66 00:04:26,851 --> 00:04:30,611 Speaker 2: the Mongols, and the Vogos. They wear patches to showcase 67 00:04:30,651 --> 00:04:34,211 Speaker 2: their feets, from using various drugs to acts of violence, 68 00:04:34,771 --> 00:04:36,731 Speaker 2: and even for killing a cop. 69 00:04:37,891 --> 00:04:40,691 Speaker 9: The Vogos chase the Hell's Angels out of that valley, 70 00:04:41,491 --> 00:04:48,171 Speaker 9: and the Vogos took over and almost every suspect who 71 00:04:48,251 --> 00:04:52,571 Speaker 9: is named in the disappearance of this deputy has some 72 00:04:52,611 --> 00:04:54,731 Speaker 9: connections to the Vogos motorcycle group. 73 00:04:56,531 --> 00:05:00,451 Speaker 2: Was John Auj one of their trophy kills? That's what 74 00:05:00,531 --> 00:05:03,371 Speaker 2: Brandenburg wants to know when he hears about some local 75 00:05:03,411 --> 00:05:05,931 Speaker 2: bikers who've been bragging about Auj's murder. 76 00:05:06,851 --> 00:05:10,371 Speaker 10: Why would the outlaw biker gain these big ass crooks 77 00:05:10,891 --> 00:05:15,851 Speaker 10: take credit for killing a cop if they didn't, because 78 00:05:15,891 --> 00:05:18,211 Speaker 10: then when it's found out, then there's nothing but a 79 00:05:18,211 --> 00:05:20,450 Speaker 10: bunch of lion punks that are taking credit for shit 80 00:05:20,491 --> 00:05:22,531 Speaker 10: they don't do. 81 00:05:22,571 --> 00:05:25,971 Speaker 2: But witnesses run for the hills when Brandenburg approaches them. 82 00:05:26,411 --> 00:05:30,171 Speaker 2: No one is willing to talk. The bikers tend to 83 00:05:30,211 --> 00:05:31,251 Speaker 2: have that effect on people. 84 00:05:32,211 --> 00:05:35,211 Speaker 1: They're scared for their life and rightfully sold. These people 85 00:05:35,291 --> 00:05:38,491 Speaker 1: were killers. They're real killers. They'll kill you in a 86 00:05:38,491 --> 00:05:40,331 Speaker 1: minute if they think it's going to say now. 87 00:05:42,251 --> 00:05:45,770 Speaker 2: The outlaw biker world is hard to break into, and 88 00:05:45,891 --> 00:05:52,011 Speaker 2: without access, Brandenburg's investigation hits a roadblock until he hears 89 00:05:52,051 --> 00:05:55,171 Speaker 2: about a hot shot young narcotics detective who's been trying 90 00:05:55,211 --> 00:05:57,091 Speaker 2: to put the squeeze on the math trade in the 91 00:05:57,091 --> 00:06:02,291 Speaker 2: Antelope Valley, but enforcing the law in these parts is 92 00:06:02,331 --> 00:06:07,011 Speaker 2: a dangerous undertaking. I'm Haley Fox. 93 00:06:07,131 --> 00:06:17,931 Speaker 3: I'm Betsy Shephard, and this is Valley of Shadows, Episode four, 94 00:06:18,851 --> 00:06:26,291 Speaker 3: Outlaw Country. 95 00:06:27,491 --> 00:06:29,891 Speaker 2: No trespassing, no hunting, no motorcycles. 96 00:06:30,091 --> 00:06:30,971 Speaker 11: Check check check. 97 00:06:32,531 --> 00:06:36,531 Speaker 3: We're on our way to meet Darren Hagar, former narcotics 98 00:06:36,571 --> 00:06:39,251 Speaker 3: detective for the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department. 99 00:06:40,690 --> 00:06:45,091 Speaker 5: He sees this, We've been granted intrigue. 100 00:06:46,811 --> 00:06:49,691 Speaker 3: Haley and I passed through a security fence and make 101 00:06:49,690 --> 00:06:53,571 Speaker 3: our way down a dirt road to Hagar's house, and 102 00:06:53,611 --> 00:06:58,650 Speaker 3: we have mister Hager in his full cowboy regilia, hat, 103 00:06:58,811 --> 00:07:06,010 Speaker 3: boots and bustle. Hagar's six feet tall, He's got a 104 00:07:06,051 --> 00:07:10,211 Speaker 3: horseshoe mustache and a barrel shaped chest. It's very easy 105 00:07:10,211 --> 00:07:13,251 Speaker 3: to picture him as a sheriff's deputy, but these days 106 00:07:13,491 --> 00:07:18,771 Speaker 3: he's cattle rancher. Can we start off by nope? 107 00:07:20,331 --> 00:07:21,531 Speaker 5: No, all right. 108 00:07:21,411 --> 00:07:22,011 Speaker 8: Let's go back to. 109 00:07:26,491 --> 00:07:29,571 Speaker 3: Hagar likes to mess with us, but he agrees to 110 00:07:29,611 --> 00:07:33,571 Speaker 3: a sit down interview. He leads us into a dark 111 00:07:33,611 --> 00:07:37,411 Speaker 3: wood paneled room covered in old Neon signs and shows 112 00:07:37,451 --> 00:07:40,811 Speaker 3: us his home bar, which is a purely a requirement for. 113 00:07:40,811 --> 00:07:42,331 Speaker 2: All retired share of deputies. 114 00:07:43,211 --> 00:07:46,131 Speaker 3: Hacker's bar is stocked with every kind of whiskey you 115 00:07:46,171 --> 00:07:48,931 Speaker 3: could possibly want and no other type of liquor. 116 00:07:49,691 --> 00:07:51,851 Speaker 6: I built the bar just try to make it his 117 00:07:51,971 --> 00:07:53,811 Speaker 6: rustic and western. 118 00:07:53,851 --> 00:07:56,851 Speaker 3: As that kid, you really do feel like you're in 119 00:07:56,891 --> 00:07:58,251 Speaker 3: an old saloon or something. 120 00:07:59,251 --> 00:08:00,331 Speaker 5: That's the whole purpose. 121 00:08:01,851 --> 00:08:04,131 Speaker 3: And just when we thought the vibes couldn't get any 122 00:08:04,131 --> 00:08:08,691 Speaker 3: more Yellowstone, we noticed a big ass taxidermied buffalo head 123 00:08:08,811 --> 00:08:09,691 Speaker 3: mounted to the wall. 124 00:08:10,811 --> 00:08:12,571 Speaker 5: But one on the wall was our herd bull. 125 00:08:13,331 --> 00:08:16,371 Speaker 6: He got pneumonia, so we smounted his head. 126 00:08:17,171 --> 00:08:17,891 Speaker 4: What made you. 127 00:08:17,771 --> 00:08:21,131 Speaker 3: Want to farm buffalo? Like, that's a. 128 00:08:21,131 --> 00:08:24,851 Speaker 6: Real choice, Larry Brandenberg's idea a humuicide detective. 129 00:08:25,691 --> 00:08:28,931 Speaker 3: That's right. Deren Hager and Larry Brandenburg ran a buffalo 130 00:08:28,931 --> 00:08:32,450 Speaker 3: farm together. They became friends in two thousand and then 131 00:08:32,491 --> 00:08:35,411 Speaker 3: business partners in two thousand and three. And the thing 132 00:08:35,451 --> 00:08:37,651 Speaker 3: that first brought them together was the John A. J. 133 00:08:37,891 --> 00:08:38,170 Speaker 5: Case. 134 00:08:39,211 --> 00:08:41,771 Speaker 3: It's a long story. So we pull up stools at 135 00:08:41,810 --> 00:08:44,931 Speaker 3: Hager's bar. He pours himself a glass of whiskey and 136 00:08:45,011 --> 00:08:48,370 Speaker 3: starts from the beginning, like the very beginning. 137 00:08:49,651 --> 00:08:53,410 Speaker 6: As a little kid, I always wanted to become police officer, 138 00:08:54,050 --> 00:08:56,850 Speaker 6: just like any normal kid, either a cowboy or a 139 00:08:56,851 --> 00:08:57,530 Speaker 6: police officer. 140 00:08:57,651 --> 00:08:57,851 Speaker 10: Right. 141 00:08:58,851 --> 00:09:01,210 Speaker 3: I like to think of myself as a pretty normal kid. 142 00:09:01,611 --> 00:09:03,450 Speaker 3: But I can't say I ever wanted to be a 143 00:09:03,491 --> 00:09:07,691 Speaker 3: cowboy or a cop. Hagar's cut from a different cloth, though. 144 00:09:08,651 --> 00:09:10,771 Speaker 3: He went to the Sheriffs Academy pretty much right out 145 00:09:10,810 --> 00:09:13,771 Speaker 3: of high school, and by his early twenties he was 146 00:09:13,810 --> 00:09:15,610 Speaker 3: working patrol in the Annala Valley. 147 00:09:16,851 --> 00:09:18,931 Speaker 6: They put me into a patrol carbon. I was just 148 00:09:19,530 --> 00:09:21,891 Speaker 6: a hooking booking machine. That's just what I like. 149 00:09:22,970 --> 00:09:26,731 Speaker 3: Hagar was a hooking booking machine, as in, he made 150 00:09:26,771 --> 00:09:27,611 Speaker 3: a lot of arrests. 151 00:09:28,371 --> 00:09:30,290 Speaker 6: I was a number either number one or number two 152 00:09:30,290 --> 00:09:33,131 Speaker 6: in stats for felling the arrests out of the entire station. 153 00:09:33,251 --> 00:09:35,771 Speaker 5: Every time we ask if. 154 00:09:35,651 --> 00:09:39,211 Speaker 3: He acquired any nicknames at the LASD, you know, like 155 00:09:39,450 --> 00:09:44,891 Speaker 3: the enforcer, the hammer, something tough. Hager's reluctant to answer, 156 00:09:45,530 --> 00:09:46,571 Speaker 3: but we keep prodding. 157 00:09:47,810 --> 00:09:48,891 Speaker 5: Nobody likes you too. 158 00:09:50,530 --> 00:09:53,011 Speaker 6: They called me Peewee because I looked like peewee. 159 00:09:53,090 --> 00:09:53,330 Speaker 1: Armin. 160 00:09:53,530 --> 00:09:58,011 Speaker 5: Are you happy? Good? I'm glad she guys are happy. 161 00:09:59,771 --> 00:10:03,091 Speaker 3: These days, Hager's more of a John Wayne type, but 162 00:10:03,170 --> 00:10:06,410 Speaker 3: back when he was still Peewee, he slowly worked his 163 00:10:06,450 --> 00:10:10,210 Speaker 3: way from patrol deputy to narcotics in the Animal Valley 164 00:10:10,251 --> 00:10:12,930 Speaker 3: where he was assigned. Was the mother load. 165 00:10:14,131 --> 00:10:16,170 Speaker 2: You know, I think a lot of people picture breaking 166 00:10:16,170 --> 00:10:18,530 Speaker 2: bad whatever you're talking about making meth in the desert. 167 00:10:19,970 --> 00:10:21,491 Speaker 2: Can you give us a reality check? 168 00:10:21,970 --> 00:10:24,690 Speaker 6: If you change the names, it's the same exact thing. 169 00:10:25,810 --> 00:10:30,450 Speaker 6: The myth we were receiving was like super crystal clear myth, 170 00:10:30,570 --> 00:10:32,570 Speaker 6: but it was ninety seven percent pure myth. 171 00:10:32,651 --> 00:10:36,290 Speaker 5: It was top by the line, breaking bad myth. 172 00:10:38,050 --> 00:10:41,370 Speaker 3: Hagar's not just picking people up for meth, though, because 173 00:10:41,371 --> 00:10:44,170 Speaker 3: the drug trade is driving up all kinds of violent crime. 174 00:10:45,170 --> 00:10:47,930 Speaker 6: We were number one in homicides in Los Angeles County, 175 00:10:48,771 --> 00:10:50,170 Speaker 6: so yeah, crime was huge. 176 00:10:51,410 --> 00:10:55,810 Speaker 3: Over time, Hagar makes detective, but even in his new role, 177 00:10:55,970 --> 00:10:58,171 Speaker 3: he can't seem to hook any of the big fish, 178 00:10:58,930 --> 00:11:01,331 Speaker 3: the traffickers who were flooding the streets with meth. 179 00:11:02,330 --> 00:11:04,731 Speaker 6: These are guys we could never touch, even if we 180 00:11:04,851 --> 00:11:07,971 Speaker 6: arrested them. All the cases got kicked out, and that's 181 00:11:07,970 --> 00:11:11,050 Speaker 6: how we came up with the name Touchables. 182 00:11:12,330 --> 00:11:15,691 Speaker 3: But then in late nineteen ninety nine, Hagar lands a 183 00:11:15,731 --> 00:11:19,891 Speaker 3: case that will change the course of his career. It 184 00:11:19,930 --> 00:11:23,050 Speaker 3: starts with a domestic abuse call that escalates when the 185 00:11:23,090 --> 00:11:25,771 Speaker 3: suspect barricades himself inside his home. 186 00:11:26,970 --> 00:11:29,131 Speaker 6: I was able to serve a search warrant on him 187 00:11:29,570 --> 00:11:34,611 Speaker 6: and found a bunch of stolen property methanphetamine and was 188 00:11:35,371 --> 00:11:38,410 Speaker 6: able to tie it back to one of the individuals 189 00:11:38,450 --> 00:11:40,850 Speaker 6: that I knew was big in the processing of meth 190 00:11:40,930 --> 00:11:41,410 Speaker 6: and fetamine. 191 00:11:42,371 --> 00:11:46,570 Speaker 3: With the charges combined, the suspect is looking at major prison. 192 00:11:46,290 --> 00:11:49,771 Speaker 6: Time and he finally came to me. He goes, I 193 00:11:49,771 --> 00:11:51,571 Speaker 6: don't want to go to jail for twelve years. What 194 00:11:51,651 --> 00:11:53,330 Speaker 6: will it take to get you off my ass? 195 00:11:54,450 --> 00:11:58,331 Speaker 3: And that's when this suspect offers to become a police informant. 196 00:11:59,131 --> 00:11:59,891 Speaker 3: We're gonna call him. 197 00:11:59,970 --> 00:12:02,170 Speaker 5: Keith go what do you got? 198 00:12:02,970 --> 00:12:06,170 Speaker 6: He goes, I will give you dealers in the methamphetamine 199 00:12:06,210 --> 00:12:09,851 Speaker 6: world out here that you never touched before, and that 200 00:12:10,050 --> 00:12:11,331 Speaker 6: started the ball rolling. 201 00:12:13,210 --> 00:12:16,451 Speaker 3: Keith is willing to name names to help Hager bust 202 00:12:16,491 --> 00:12:20,530 Speaker 3: the area's meth giants, but first Keith need some assurance 203 00:12:20,771 --> 00:12:24,050 Speaker 3: no one will ever find out. He claims there's a 204 00:12:24,090 --> 00:12:28,131 Speaker 3: lot of powerful people involved, dangerous people like the bikers 205 00:12:28,771 --> 00:12:30,131 Speaker 3: who do not fuck around. 206 00:12:30,810 --> 00:12:33,970 Speaker 6: The outlaw bikers were big out there. If you cross 207 00:12:34,050 --> 00:12:36,931 Speaker 6: them there was a guaranteed death that was going to 208 00:12:36,930 --> 00:12:37,330 Speaker 6: be murder. 209 00:12:39,651 --> 00:12:43,651 Speaker 3: Hager realizes he's in over his head, so he kicks 210 00:12:43,651 --> 00:12:45,371 Speaker 3: the info up to his supervisor. 211 00:12:46,290 --> 00:12:46,851 Speaker 5: They got there. 212 00:12:47,930 --> 00:12:50,690 Speaker 6: This is like above my pay scale. This is huge. 213 00:12:51,290 --> 00:12:53,611 Speaker 6: This is way huge, and it got even bigger. 214 00:12:54,731 --> 00:12:57,890 Speaker 3: His supervisor calls a meeting with a few other detectives. 215 00:12:58,570 --> 00:13:02,491 Speaker 3: Hager tells them everything discussed must stay in the room. 216 00:13:04,530 --> 00:13:07,450 Speaker 3: But less than twenty four hours later, Hager gets a 217 00:13:07,491 --> 00:13:09,730 Speaker 3: call from Keith, his informant. 218 00:13:10,131 --> 00:13:11,811 Speaker 6: And he goes, who did you tell that's already on 219 00:13:11,851 --> 00:13:13,251 Speaker 6: the street that I'm talking to you. 220 00:13:14,690 --> 00:13:18,771 Speaker 3: Keith manages to convince people he's no snitch, but the 221 00:13:18,851 --> 00:13:22,730 Speaker 3: problem remains the dealers have a direct line to someone 222 00:13:22,810 --> 00:13:26,091 Speaker 3: in the sheriff's department. Keith says he knows a number 223 00:13:26,090 --> 00:13:27,050 Speaker 3: of dirty deputies. 224 00:13:27,891 --> 00:13:31,931 Speaker 6: He said, look, if you go forward with this, deputy X, Y, 225 00:13:31,970 --> 00:13:34,771 Speaker 6: and Z are going to know exactly what's going on. 226 00:13:35,771 --> 00:13:37,050 Speaker 5: So you got to protect me. 227 00:13:38,611 --> 00:13:41,530 Speaker 3: Hagar doesn't know what to think, but it's his job 228 00:13:41,651 --> 00:13:42,610 Speaker 3: to reassure Keith. 229 00:13:43,771 --> 00:13:47,170 Speaker 6: I had no information confirmation that deputies were dirty, but 230 00:13:48,011 --> 00:13:51,491 Speaker 6: for the safety of my informant, I don't want them injured. 231 00:13:51,491 --> 00:13:55,570 Speaker 6: That's your main goal is you'd never want an informant hurt, and. 232 00:13:55,530 --> 00:13:59,050 Speaker 3: That's why we're using aliases for Keith and other informants 233 00:13:59,450 --> 00:14:04,530 Speaker 3: to protect their identities. Hager sends Keith's concerns up the 234 00:14:04,530 --> 00:14:07,931 Speaker 3: flagpole to the second in command at the NARCO Bureau. 235 00:14:08,970 --> 00:14:11,451 Speaker 6: He goes, don't talk to anybody else. Take it to 236 00:14:11,491 --> 00:14:13,931 Speaker 6: the FEDS. Take it straight to DEA. He goes, he 237 00:14:13,970 --> 00:14:15,370 Speaker 6: can't trust anybody in here. 238 00:14:19,011 --> 00:14:23,451 Speaker 2: That's what Hager does. He meets with the Drug Enforcement Administration, 239 00:14:24,131 --> 00:14:26,571 Speaker 2: tells him about the meth trade in the Antelope Valley, 240 00:14:26,891 --> 00:14:30,850 Speaker 2: the untouchables, the leaks in the department, and the FEDS 241 00:14:30,891 --> 00:14:33,211 Speaker 2: agree to help under one condition. 242 00:14:34,090 --> 00:14:38,171 Speaker 6: Will work your bakcase. Well, we're not going to work 243 00:14:38,210 --> 00:14:39,731 Speaker 6: any deputy personnel that you have. 244 00:14:41,371 --> 00:14:44,291 Speaker 2: So the DEA and the Sheriff's Department come to an agreement. 245 00:14:44,851 --> 00:14:47,850 Speaker 2: It'll be a joint effort. The DEA will lead the 246 00:14:47,931 --> 00:14:51,411 Speaker 2: charge on the meth trafficking investigation, and the LASD will 247 00:14:51,451 --> 00:14:55,251 Speaker 2: handle claims of police misconduct and crimes outside of narcotics. 248 00:14:56,451 --> 00:15:00,091 Speaker 2: The FEDS ask Hagar to be their local guide because 249 00:15:00,131 --> 00:15:03,611 Speaker 2: this is an unusual place and he knows it well. 250 00:15:04,571 --> 00:15:07,211 Speaker 6: I can tell you how many police pursuits and chases 251 00:15:07,251 --> 00:15:09,771 Speaker 6: we had through the desert because it's pitch black out 252 00:15:09,771 --> 00:15:11,771 Speaker 6: there and you're running over out of snakes and jack 253 00:15:11,891 --> 00:15:14,090 Speaker 6: rabbits trying to get the bad guy, and they just 254 00:15:14,090 --> 00:15:17,090 Speaker 6: feel they're going to get away. So I got sworn 255 00:15:17,131 --> 00:15:19,571 Speaker 6: in as a federal agent for them, even though I 256 00:15:19,611 --> 00:15:21,731 Speaker 6: was still a La County deputy sheriff. 257 00:15:23,330 --> 00:15:27,091 Speaker 2: From the start, there's a huge emphasis on discretion to 258 00:15:27,131 --> 00:15:29,931 Speaker 2: protect against leaks. The task force will operate in a 259 00:15:30,011 --> 00:15:33,451 Speaker 2: vacuum without the knowledge or help of local deputies. 260 00:15:34,371 --> 00:15:37,371 Speaker 6: We got to keep this quiet, not just that I 261 00:15:37,451 --> 00:15:43,011 Speaker 6: was going undercover, but quiet internally, like nobody needs to know. 262 00:15:44,171 --> 00:15:47,011 Speaker 6: That's where the name Operation Silent Thunder came up. 263 00:15:48,171 --> 00:15:55,771 Speaker 2: Operation Silent Thunder. Almost overnight, Hegre's life is turned upside down. 264 00:15:56,691 --> 00:15:58,691 Speaker 6: I was taken completely out of the station. I wasn't 265 00:15:58,731 --> 00:16:01,971 Speaker 6: allowed at the station. I couldn't try my vehicle to 266 00:16:02,011 --> 00:16:05,171 Speaker 6: the station. I couldn't talk to any more deputies at 267 00:16:05,171 --> 00:16:05,571 Speaker 6: the station. 268 00:16:06,691 --> 00:16:09,811 Speaker 2: He grows a beard to disguise his appearance, and he's 269 00:16:09,851 --> 00:16:13,491 Speaker 2: relocated to an abandoned fire station, where he and five 270 00:16:13,611 --> 00:16:17,131 Speaker 2: DEA agents set up offices. It's one of many safe 271 00:16:17,171 --> 00:16:19,011 Speaker 2: houses used by the task Force. 272 00:16:19,851 --> 00:16:22,370 Speaker 6: They were just old, abandoned houses that we had keys 273 00:16:22,451 --> 00:16:25,491 Speaker 6: to at several of those so we could swap different 274 00:16:25,531 --> 00:16:29,730 Speaker 6: houses so people aren't tailing us and seeing what we were doing. 275 00:16:31,411 --> 00:16:34,850 Speaker 2: Despite all Silent Thunder's efforts to keep the lowest of profiles, 276 00:16:35,251 --> 00:16:40,051 Speaker 2: word of Hagar's star informant reaches homicide detective Larry Brandenburg. 277 00:16:41,451 --> 00:16:45,571 Speaker 6: He knew that my informant was involved in this meth trade, 278 00:16:46,171 --> 00:16:48,451 Speaker 6: so he wanted to ask him if he knew certain 279 00:16:48,491 --> 00:16:50,610 Speaker 6: things about what's going on in the Antelope Valley. 280 00:16:52,011 --> 00:16:55,011 Speaker 2: Hagar bristles at first, he's mad that word of his 281 00:16:55,090 --> 00:16:59,210 Speaker 2: informant is making the rounds, but he softens when Brandenburg 282 00:16:59,291 --> 00:17:01,971 Speaker 2: says he's chasing a lead related to the disappearance of 283 00:17:02,051 --> 00:17:06,690 Speaker 2: John Auj. Because Hagar knew Auj. He worked with him 284 00:17:06,691 --> 00:17:11,971 Speaker 2: in Bosco a number of times. So here's Brandenburg out and. 285 00:17:11,971 --> 00:17:15,251 Speaker 6: He told me what he was learning. I got you're 286 00:17:15,291 --> 00:17:17,571 Speaker 6: the homicide detective, but I sure don't believe it. 287 00:17:18,811 --> 00:17:21,931 Speaker 2: Up until now, Hagar had heard little about Aujay's case, 288 00:17:22,851 --> 00:17:25,651 Speaker 2: just that he vanished in the punch bowl, so he's 289 00:17:25,731 --> 00:17:29,211 Speaker 2: surprised by the murder allegations, but he agrees to let 290 00:17:29,211 --> 00:17:32,411 Speaker 2: Brandenburg talk to Keith at a clandestine location. 291 00:17:33,771 --> 00:17:35,131 Speaker 6: You get out there in the middle of the desert. 292 00:17:35,131 --> 00:17:38,411 Speaker 6: He makes sure no one's around. You're constantly looking out 293 00:17:38,411 --> 00:17:39,130 Speaker 6: the windows. 294 00:17:40,491 --> 00:17:42,971 Speaker 2: They meet in a remote part of the Mojave Desert 295 00:17:43,211 --> 00:17:46,531 Speaker 2: and pile into an unmarked police van Hagar makes the 296 00:17:46,571 --> 00:17:49,171 Speaker 2: introduction and the informant starts talking. 297 00:17:50,531 --> 00:17:52,691 Speaker 1: He said he had been hearing things from drug dealers 298 00:17:52,731 --> 00:17:55,651 Speaker 1: that all Ja was off duty and he came across 299 00:17:55,651 --> 00:17:56,291 Speaker 1: a meth lab. 300 00:17:57,371 --> 00:18:01,571 Speaker 2: Brandenburg has heard this before, but this has added confirmation. 301 00:18:02,731 --> 00:18:05,411 Speaker 1: And the drug dealers killed him because he came across 302 00:18:05,411 --> 00:18:07,090 Speaker 1: his lab and they didn't want it exposed. He can 303 00:18:07,171 --> 00:18:09,651 Speaker 1: go to jail, and that they dropped him in a hole. 304 00:18:10,411 --> 00:18:12,891 Speaker 2: It's the same story with the same names. 305 00:18:13,691 --> 00:18:17,091 Speaker 1: He brought up Tom Hankel said they called him God 306 00:18:17,771 --> 00:18:20,851 Speaker 1: and that he was a coal hearted killer. And he 307 00:18:20,971 --> 00:18:24,531 Speaker 1: said that he heard that Richard Carrolyn may also be involved. 308 00:18:25,491 --> 00:18:28,051 Speaker 2: That's the guy who owned the meth lab right next 309 00:18:28,091 --> 00:18:31,411 Speaker 2: to the punch bowl. Prior to this, Brandenburg had just 310 00:18:31,451 --> 00:18:34,491 Speaker 2: suspected Carroll's involvement, So. 311 00:18:34,531 --> 00:18:38,051 Speaker 1: That kind of got our attention that he's putting out 312 00:18:38,091 --> 00:18:39,411 Speaker 1: the right place, the right. 313 00:18:39,291 --> 00:18:43,291 Speaker 2: Names, Hagar gets some new names for the task force. 314 00:18:43,691 --> 00:18:48,011 Speaker 2: Brandenburg lands some witness corroboration. But the biggest outcome of 315 00:18:48,051 --> 00:18:51,771 Speaker 2: this meeting is that Hagar and Brandenburg have entered into 316 00:18:51,811 --> 00:18:56,771 Speaker 2: a kind of unofficial partnership. Hager knows he's got to 317 00:18:56,811 --> 00:19:00,491 Speaker 2: maintain the ConA silence, but the department tells him anything 318 00:19:00,571 --> 00:19:03,931 Speaker 2: beyond narcotics should be passed along to the appropriate law 319 00:19:04,011 --> 00:19:08,331 Speaker 2: enforcement division. So that's what Hagar does. He hands off 320 00:19:08,331 --> 00:19:11,811 Speaker 2: au Jay leads to Larry Brandenburg, and over time the 321 00:19:11,891 --> 00:19:14,371 Speaker 2: men develop a type of ali operpoort. 322 00:19:15,931 --> 00:19:19,090 Speaker 6: We would get the door open through our informants to 323 00:19:19,211 --> 00:19:21,891 Speaker 6: where Larry wanted us to go, and then pass that 324 00:19:21,971 --> 00:19:24,691 Speaker 6: information onto Larry, and then Hut try to put the 325 00:19:24,691 --> 00:19:27,330 Speaker 6: homicide investigation together, you know. 326 00:19:27,411 --> 00:19:29,611 Speaker 5: And it worked out, worked. 327 00:19:29,291 --> 00:19:33,171 Speaker 2: Great, and in the process they take a liking to 328 00:19:33,251 --> 00:19:33,611 Speaker 2: each other. 329 00:19:34,171 --> 00:19:36,011 Speaker 6: And then we started hanging around each other, and then 330 00:19:36,051 --> 00:19:38,331 Speaker 6: we started talking off duty, and there might have been 331 00:19:39,131 --> 00:19:41,491 Speaker 6: a couple of glasses of chocolate milk here and there 332 00:19:41,531 --> 00:19:42,371 Speaker 6: after wead. 333 00:19:43,971 --> 00:19:45,491 Speaker 5: Whatever. We became good friends. 334 00:19:45,491 --> 00:19:50,571 Speaker 2: Over well, Brandenburg works the homicide angle. Hagar follows up 335 00:19:50,611 --> 00:19:52,531 Speaker 2: on the names Keith has given him. 336 00:19:53,411 --> 00:19:57,131 Speaker 6: We talked to probably thousands of people on the street, 337 00:19:58,731 --> 00:20:02,011 Speaker 6: and you got to put that link chart together. Who 338 00:20:02,051 --> 00:20:05,371 Speaker 6: knows who are they really worth looking into a little 339 00:20:05,371 --> 00:20:08,091 Speaker 6: more or talking to a little more. And every time 340 00:20:08,131 --> 00:20:11,091 Speaker 6: you talk to one person, that person's going to give 341 00:20:11,091 --> 00:20:12,171 Speaker 6: you a whole dozen other. 342 00:20:12,091 --> 00:20:17,691 Speaker 2: Names, and sometimes one of these names pays off. It's 343 00:20:17,731 --> 00:20:21,371 Speaker 2: a new eyewitness who allegedly saw Auja in the punch 344 00:20:21,411 --> 00:20:26,211 Speaker 2: bowl area at sunset, right before he disappeared, and the 345 00:20:26,211 --> 00:20:51,571 Speaker 2: witness tells Hager that auj had company. 346 00:20:46,011 --> 00:20:50,090 Speaker 3: Narco Detective Darren Hager, here's about a guy named Rodney Katzif. 347 00:20:50,851 --> 00:20:53,291 Speaker 3: He's fresh out of jail and finds work with a 348 00:20:53,331 --> 00:20:55,931 Speaker 3: local lawyer digging up dirt on people. 349 00:20:57,131 --> 00:21:02,331 Speaker 6: So Rodney Castiff was out shaking trees and bushes and 350 00:21:02,411 --> 00:21:04,331 Speaker 6: interviewing people and doing his own thing. 351 00:21:05,811 --> 00:21:09,451 Speaker 3: Katsiff is tied into the local drug world, including a 352 00:21:09,611 --> 00:21:14,011 Speaker 3: godlike Tom Hinkle, so all sorts of characters opened up 353 00:21:14,011 --> 00:21:16,891 Speaker 3: to him, and it turns out katz If has a lead. 354 00:21:17,771 --> 00:21:20,051 Speaker 3: He tells Hager about an interview he did with a 355 00:21:20,091 --> 00:21:23,211 Speaker 3: man who claims that he saw John Ajay in the 356 00:21:23,211 --> 00:21:27,971 Speaker 3: punch bowl at dusk, right before he disappeared. This is 357 00:21:28,011 --> 00:21:31,651 Speaker 3: a huge development because up until this point, all reported 358 00:21:31,691 --> 00:21:35,371 Speaker 3: auj sightings had been earlier in the day, so this witness, 359 00:21:35,491 --> 00:21:38,571 Speaker 3: who we're gonna call Matt, might have insight into Aujay's 360 00:21:38,651 --> 00:21:43,091 Speaker 3: last moments. Katz offf tells Hager that Matt was confronted 361 00:21:43,131 --> 00:21:46,411 Speaker 3: by two armed bikers in the punch Bowl and that 362 00:21:46,491 --> 00:21:49,771 Speaker 3: Matt saw John Aujay headed in the direction of those bikers. 363 00:21:50,611 --> 00:21:53,651 Speaker 3: So Hager tracks down Matt to hear the story firsthand. 364 00:21:54,691 --> 00:21:56,491 Speaker 6: At first, he says, they were yelling by a rock, 365 00:21:56,531 --> 00:21:59,731 Speaker 6: and your deputy went over ag him and he wouldn't 366 00:21:59,731 --> 00:22:00,571 Speaker 6: talk any more than that. 367 00:22:01,891 --> 00:22:05,251 Speaker 3: Later, Matt starts to walk back. This version of events 368 00:22:05,931 --> 00:22:10,171 Speaker 3: changes the biker details, says he just saw some hippies. 369 00:22:11,211 --> 00:22:12,851 Speaker 6: The next time we talked to him, he goes, well, 370 00:22:13,851 --> 00:22:15,971 Speaker 6: I think the guys on the rocks were like jumping 371 00:22:16,011 --> 00:22:18,811 Speaker 6: and they were just yelling. Having thought, you know, it 372 00:22:18,891 --> 00:22:22,971 Speaker 6: wasn't like yelling like something was going wrong, like an argument. 373 00:22:23,931 --> 00:22:26,291 Speaker 3: Hagar says. Matt even seemed to be lying about what 374 00:22:26,371 --> 00:22:29,131 Speaker 3: he was doing in the punch Bowl that day. He 375 00:22:29,251 --> 00:22:32,651 Speaker 3: claimed to be up there mountain biking, but Hagar learns 376 00:22:32,691 --> 00:22:35,611 Speaker 3: that Matt is pretty tapped in with Tom Hankle and 377 00:22:35,731 --> 00:22:36,411 Speaker 3: Richard Carroll. 378 00:22:37,411 --> 00:22:40,251 Speaker 6: He knew every player in that punch Bowl area. You know, 379 00:22:40,291 --> 00:22:41,731 Speaker 6: if I want to ride a bike in the mountains, 380 00:22:41,731 --> 00:22:44,771 Speaker 6: I'm not going to know everybody there. So this guy 381 00:22:44,971 --> 00:22:48,451 Speaker 6: was in their twine somehow, some way. 382 00:22:48,531 --> 00:22:51,571 Speaker 3: But the lead fizzles out when Matt recants his story. 383 00:22:53,531 --> 00:22:56,731 Speaker 3: Hager guesses it's because Matt was scared of the bikers 384 00:22:57,171 --> 00:22:59,331 Speaker 3: and what would happen to him if the bikers found 385 00:22:59,371 --> 00:23:02,691 Speaker 3: out he placed them in the punch Bowl at the 386 00:23:02,691 --> 00:23:08,251 Speaker 3: time of Aujay's disappearance. And then something happens that strengthens 387 00:23:08,251 --> 00:23:12,211 Speaker 3: Hagar's hunch. He circles back with kats If, that guy 388 00:23:12,251 --> 00:23:15,451 Speaker 3: out there shaking those trees, to see if he has 389 00:23:15,531 --> 00:23:20,330 Speaker 3: any more details about Matt's original account. But before Hagar 390 00:23:20,371 --> 00:23:23,651 Speaker 3: can talk to him, Katsif disappears. 391 00:23:25,051 --> 00:23:27,491 Speaker 6: This car was found burned up in the wash in 392 00:23:27,531 --> 00:23:30,891 Speaker 6: Para Blossom, and he's never been found again. And that's 393 00:23:30,971 --> 00:23:33,090 Speaker 6: at the same time we were starting to get information 394 00:23:33,251 --> 00:23:36,451 Speaker 6: from him on what we needed for our case. 395 00:23:39,411 --> 00:23:42,330 Speaker 3: In September two thousand and one, Katz's car is found 396 00:23:42,411 --> 00:23:46,571 Speaker 3: burned out near the Angelus National Forest, not far from 397 00:23:46,611 --> 00:23:49,931 Speaker 3: where auj had been jogging three years earlier. And just 398 00:23:50,091 --> 00:23:54,971 Speaker 3: like the deputy Katsiff vanishes into thin air. Hagar can't 399 00:23:55,011 --> 00:23:58,411 Speaker 3: help but think the two disappearances are related, that the 400 00:23:58,451 --> 00:24:01,131 Speaker 3: men were taken out because they got too close to something, 401 00:24:02,011 --> 00:24:06,571 Speaker 3: and there's a common thread between the disappearances. The outlaw bikers. 402 00:24:07,891 --> 00:24:10,451 Speaker 6: If you didn't pay your debt, or if you're at it, 403 00:24:10,571 --> 00:24:12,491 Speaker 6: or they thought you were gonna rat or you got 404 00:24:12,531 --> 00:24:16,371 Speaker 6: involved in their business, there wasn't hey, don't do that 405 00:24:16,411 --> 00:24:19,571 Speaker 6: ever again, you're done. They got rid of you. They 406 00:24:19,571 --> 00:24:22,931 Speaker 6: didn't take a chance. So that's where the murders came in. 407 00:24:25,131 --> 00:24:28,971 Speaker 2: Annelobally has a large presence about law bikers who were 408 00:24:29,011 --> 00:24:30,691 Speaker 2: constantly making the nightly news. 409 00:24:31,491 --> 00:24:35,051 Speaker 8: Witnesses describe a chaotic scene of gunfire and stabbing between 410 00:24:35,051 --> 00:24:37,971 Speaker 8: the Hells Angels and one of the most violent motorcycle 411 00:24:38,011 --> 00:24:42,211 Speaker 8: gangs in the country, the Mongols. Prosecutors say Voggos are 412 00:24:42,211 --> 00:24:46,971 Speaker 8: being charged with murder, attempted murder, drug and firearms deally. 413 00:24:47,091 --> 00:24:48,650 Speaker 9: I know they don't like me to call them our 414 00:24:48,691 --> 00:24:51,291 Speaker 9: local terrorists, but I'll put that name on them too. 415 00:24:52,651 --> 00:24:56,571 Speaker 2: These groups also went by another name, the one percenters. 416 00:24:57,651 --> 00:25:00,291 Speaker 2: It's a term coined back in the nineteen forties to 417 00:25:00,371 --> 00:25:03,651 Speaker 2: distinguish the majority of bikers who are law abiding citizens 418 00:25:04,091 --> 00:25:07,451 Speaker 2: from a small number of bad apples, the one percent. 419 00:25:08,611 --> 00:25:11,571 Speaker 2: Some biker game have turned that into a point of pride, 420 00:25:12,051 --> 00:25:16,531 Speaker 2: embracing the one percenter label, and that's often reflected in 421 00:25:16,571 --> 00:25:21,331 Speaker 2: their names, The Devil's Disciples, the Grim Reapers, and the Diablos. 422 00:25:22,411 --> 00:25:25,251 Speaker 2: The official term law enforcement uses to refer to one 423 00:25:25,291 --> 00:25:32,011 Speaker 2: percenter groups as outlaw motorcycle gangs or omgs. The bikers 424 00:25:32,051 --> 00:25:36,091 Speaker 2: got the OMG acronym well before texting emerged, just fyi, 425 00:25:37,571 --> 00:25:40,651 Speaker 2: and many of these omgs are native to southern California. 426 00:25:41,811 --> 00:25:45,731 Speaker 12: Hell's Angels originated in San Bernardino, the Vogos originated in 427 00:25:45,811 --> 00:25:50,451 Speaker 12: San Bernardino. The Mongols originated in Montabello, California. So I 428 00:25:50,491 --> 00:25:53,251 Speaker 12: mean this is a lot of the mother chapters of 429 00:25:53,291 --> 00:25:54,611 Speaker 12: these clubs started here. 430 00:25:55,931 --> 00:25:59,491 Speaker 2: This is John Carr, a retired agent from the Bureau 431 00:25:59,611 --> 00:26:05,011 Speaker 2: of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives or ATF. He's an 432 00:26:05,091 --> 00:26:08,531 Speaker 2: expert in the omgs, and back in the day he 433 00:26:08,691 --> 00:26:12,090 Speaker 2: even infl traded some of them while working undercover, and 434 00:26:12,131 --> 00:26:17,091 Speaker 2: he still looks the part intimidating an all muscle. Carr 435 00:26:17,091 --> 00:26:20,611 Speaker 2: says that the biker gangs claim their turf and the 436 00:26:20,611 --> 00:26:23,091 Speaker 2: Antelope Valley belongs to the Vogos. 437 00:26:24,051 --> 00:26:27,731 Speaker 11: Vogos are still that old school kind of down and dirty. 438 00:26:28,211 --> 00:26:32,691 Speaker 2: OMG Car lays out two denim vests that he confiscated 439 00:26:32,691 --> 00:26:36,491 Speaker 2: from the Vagos during prior investigations. The centerpiece of the 440 00:26:36,571 --> 00:26:39,811 Speaker 2: vest is the club's emblem. 441 00:26:39,091 --> 00:26:41,491 Speaker 12: Their center patch. You can see this red devil. It's 442 00:26:41,491 --> 00:26:44,371 Speaker 12: supposed to be the red Loki, the Norse god of mischief. 443 00:26:44,531 --> 00:26:48,411 Speaker 12: He's on a wing wheel and he's holding basically Voglo's 444 00:26:48,491 --> 00:26:49,851 Speaker 12: banner up in his hands. 445 00:26:50,451 --> 00:26:52,731 Speaker 11: And then the MC is for Motorcycle Club. 446 00:26:53,971 --> 00:26:57,091 Speaker 2: Bikers are given the back patch when they're officially selected 447 00:26:57,091 --> 00:27:00,691 Speaker 2: as a member. They can earn others for different contributions 448 00:27:00,731 --> 00:27:04,251 Speaker 2: to the club. In front of us, there's a swastika patch, 449 00:27:04,691 --> 00:27:07,531 Speaker 2: which tracks because a lot of the biker gangs have 450 00:27:07,691 --> 00:27:12,331 Speaker 2: deep roots in Neo Nazias them. Other patches are slightly 451 00:27:12,371 --> 00:27:15,851 Speaker 2: more subtle, like the one that says mf. 452 00:27:16,651 --> 00:27:19,651 Speaker 12: If you ask Evago what it means, they'll say it 453 00:27:19,731 --> 00:27:23,651 Speaker 12: means a motorcycle family. But as law enforcement we know 454 00:27:23,731 --> 00:27:26,891 Speaker 12: it's what they call their motherfucker patch. It's a patch 455 00:27:26,891 --> 00:27:30,011 Speaker 12: you earn for doing some form of violence. 456 00:27:30,051 --> 00:27:30,291 Speaker 11: You know. 457 00:27:30,811 --> 00:27:33,571 Speaker 2: I know that the Voggos will not like this comparison, 458 00:27:33,611 --> 00:27:35,651 Speaker 2: but so it is a little bit like girl Scout 459 00:27:35,771 --> 00:27:37,451 Speaker 2: and that you get patches. 460 00:27:37,371 --> 00:27:41,011 Speaker 13: For doing certain as tluely there's patches you earn and 461 00:27:42,211 --> 00:27:46,291 Speaker 13: without a doubt, you know. I mean, in this culture, 462 00:27:45,891 --> 00:27:49,891 Speaker 13: their cuts, their vests are one of the most important 463 00:27:49,891 --> 00:27:53,651 Speaker 13: things to them. It's a very sacred thing to these guys. 464 00:27:54,651 --> 00:27:57,531 Speaker 2: It's not just that the patches are sacred. There's a 465 00:27:57,651 --> 00:28:01,571 Speaker 2: quasi religious aspect to biker culture in general. The gangs 466 00:28:01,611 --> 00:28:04,650 Speaker 2: hold weekly meetings they call church, and there's even a 467 00:28:04,691 --> 00:28:07,731 Speaker 2: group mentality when it comes to acts of violence. 468 00:28:08,651 --> 00:28:11,131 Speaker 11: You know, they use a term called a boot. 469 00:28:10,931 --> 00:28:14,611 Speaker 2: Party, right, a boot party, or you know. 470 00:28:14,611 --> 00:28:18,811 Speaker 11: You basically stomped the shit out of somebody car. 471 00:28:18,851 --> 00:28:22,411 Speaker 2: Saw evidence of this firsthand, a bloody corpse that the 472 00:28:22,491 --> 00:28:25,011 Speaker 2: Vogos had dumped in the desert, you. 473 00:28:25,011 --> 00:28:29,251 Speaker 11: Know, And that's part of the way this individual got murdered. 474 00:28:29,691 --> 00:28:32,611 Speaker 12: He got stomped to death just having that motorcycle boot 475 00:28:32,811 --> 00:28:34,371 Speaker 12: imprint on his face. 476 00:28:37,131 --> 00:28:40,371 Speaker 2: In the Mojave Desert. Detective Darren Hager says the Vogos 477 00:28:40,371 --> 00:28:43,371 Speaker 2: were involved in all types of criminal activity. 478 00:28:43,851 --> 00:28:46,731 Speaker 7: Laced from five counties carry out a massive early morning 479 00:28:46,811 --> 00:28:51,491 Speaker 7: raid on the outlaw motorcycle gang called Vagos. They seize guns, drugs, money, 480 00:28:51,491 --> 00:28:55,611 Speaker 7: and arrest twenty five bikers, charging them with murder, attempted murder, 481 00:28:55,731 --> 00:28:56,651 Speaker 7: and drug dealing. 482 00:28:57,611 --> 00:29:00,691 Speaker 2: One of the agencies targeting the bikers was the DEA 483 00:29:01,211 --> 00:29:03,491 Speaker 2: with the Operation Silent Thunder Task Force. 484 00:29:04,571 --> 00:29:06,611 Speaker 6: I'm not saying all the dope and animal valley came 485 00:29:06,611 --> 00:29:08,691 Speaker 6: from the one percent, but it was a big percent 486 00:29:08,731 --> 00:29:12,251 Speaker 6: of the animalot bank. I mean they did a lot 487 00:29:12,291 --> 00:29:14,891 Speaker 6: of the meth dealing and they were huge. I mean 488 00:29:14,931 --> 00:29:18,771 Speaker 6: we took down a fifty seven pound a veteran lab. 489 00:29:18,811 --> 00:29:21,731 Speaker 6: We took down one hundred pound meth and fetamine lab, 490 00:29:21,931 --> 00:29:24,371 Speaker 6: and lots of caizuars in between. 491 00:29:26,331 --> 00:29:29,611 Speaker 3: As Hagar and his DEA counterparts start mapping out the 492 00:29:29,651 --> 00:29:34,091 Speaker 3: meth trade, they identify six cells in the area. One 493 00:29:34,211 --> 00:29:37,691 Speaker 3: was run by a Mexican cartel. The other five were 494 00:29:37,731 --> 00:29:43,051 Speaker 3: associated with outlaw biker gangs, which checks because bikers and 495 00:29:43,171 --> 00:29:47,611 Speaker 3: meth are a duo as old as time. Crank, one 496 00:29:47,651 --> 00:29:51,371 Speaker 3: of meth's early nicknames, came from motorcycle gangs because they 497 00:29:51,491 --> 00:29:54,971 Speaker 3: used to hide their drugs in their engine block also 498 00:29:55,051 --> 00:29:59,251 Speaker 3: known as a crank case. The bikers would cook meth 499 00:29:59,371 --> 00:30:04,131 Speaker 3: nearly anywhere, in shipping containers and trailers, and the Vagos 500 00:30:04,291 --> 00:30:07,651 Speaker 3: were known to use Rick Carroll's underground lab near the 501 00:30:07,691 --> 00:30:12,171 Speaker 3: punch Bowl. It was also bikers who started making crystal, 502 00:30:12,571 --> 00:30:15,331 Speaker 3: the type of meth sold in rock form, and that 503 00:30:15,411 --> 00:30:18,811 Speaker 3: led to skyrocketing Matthews because crystal was easy to make 504 00:30:19,051 --> 00:30:24,251 Speaker 3: an extremely potent that ninety seven percent pure breaking bad myth. 505 00:30:27,211 --> 00:30:30,651 Speaker 3: Motorcycle culture is so ubiquitous in the Analog Valley in 506 00:30:30,691 --> 00:30:34,051 Speaker 3: the nineties and two thousands that the local cops went 507 00:30:34,171 --> 00:30:37,491 Speaker 3: in on the action. Sheriff deputies even formed their own 508 00:30:37,531 --> 00:30:42,251 Speaker 3: biker club called the Outlaw Pigs with jackets, patches the 509 00:30:42,291 --> 00:30:45,771 Speaker 3: whole nine yards. What's the image on the back of 510 00:30:46,611 --> 00:30:50,131 Speaker 3: It's a pig with horns. A pig with horns. 511 00:30:50,291 --> 00:30:53,291 Speaker 8: Yeah, it's a pig with horns. Yeah. 512 00:30:53,491 --> 00:30:56,811 Speaker 3: I recently hopped on the phone with Vince Burton. He's 513 00:30:56,891 --> 00:31:00,131 Speaker 3: retired from the LSD now, but when a Jay disappeared, 514 00:31:00,131 --> 00:31:02,851 Speaker 3: he was a sergeant at the Palmdale station and he 515 00:31:02,851 --> 00:31:07,571 Speaker 3: helped lead the AUJ search. He also founded the Outlaw Pigs. 516 00:31:08,131 --> 00:31:10,051 Speaker 5: We didn't you know violate well? 517 00:31:10,091 --> 00:31:12,451 Speaker 8: We might have sped now and then on motorcycles, but 518 00:31:12,771 --> 00:31:13,771 Speaker 8: that's probably about it. 519 00:31:13,811 --> 00:31:15,931 Speaker 14: You know, we weren't We weren't dougs. 520 00:31:16,691 --> 00:31:19,811 Speaker 3: Burton says the Alla Pigs was just a fraternal club 521 00:31:20,091 --> 00:31:24,931 Speaker 3: with cops who happened to ride Harley's. But Burton also 522 00:31:25,131 --> 00:31:28,251 Speaker 3: worked in the area, so he got to know the vogos, 523 00:31:29,051 --> 00:31:32,651 Speaker 3: including the club's president, a guy named thirty seven. 524 00:31:33,531 --> 00:31:36,491 Speaker 8: I still have the phone number for thirty seven. Who 525 00:31:36,611 --> 00:31:40,051 Speaker 8: was That's his nickname, the street names. He is like 526 00:31:40,171 --> 00:31:42,211 Speaker 8: the godfather of the chapter. 527 00:31:43,411 --> 00:31:46,771 Speaker 3: Burton says that when possible, he'd let the vogos sort 528 00:31:46,811 --> 00:31:50,451 Speaker 3: out their own affairs, and when members god on his radar, 529 00:31:50,891 --> 00:31:53,811 Speaker 3: he goes straight to thirty seven and pressure him to 530 00:31:53,891 --> 00:31:55,051 Speaker 3: get his troops in line. 531 00:31:55,971 --> 00:31:58,651 Speaker 8: I would say, go take care of your brother right now. 532 00:31:58,771 --> 00:32:00,771 Speaker 8: We're going to go in there and arrest him and 533 00:32:00,811 --> 00:32:03,651 Speaker 8: his old lady for being stupid or for doing this 534 00:32:03,771 --> 00:32:07,011 Speaker 8: or doing that. Okay, Sergeant Burton and his guys would 535 00:32:07,091 --> 00:32:10,491 Speaker 8: go and if they had to physically handle whatever, and 536 00:32:10,571 --> 00:32:13,531 Speaker 8: he would take their guy away and the problem was solved. 537 00:32:15,451 --> 00:32:18,691 Speaker 3: Telling the vagos to discipline its members seems like a 538 00:32:18,811 --> 00:32:22,811 Speaker 3: bad idea because their form of discipline often involves violence, 539 00:32:23,011 --> 00:32:27,411 Speaker 3: sometimes extreme violence. But there's a larger issue at play here. 540 00:32:27,971 --> 00:32:32,291 Speaker 3: It's this chummy relationship between law enforcement and outlaw bikers. 541 00:32:33,171 --> 00:32:35,851 Speaker 3: There was even a deputy rumor to be a patched member. 542 00:32:36,451 --> 00:32:39,171 Speaker 3: He had all the Vagos. Garrett Home would park his 543 00:32:39,251 --> 00:32:42,771 Speaker 3: patrol vehicle outside their church meetings, and he even served 544 00:32:42,771 --> 00:32:45,971 Speaker 3: as a lookout for the gang while on duty and 545 00:32:46,011 --> 00:32:49,491 Speaker 3: in uniform. He posted up outside a house while the 546 00:32:49,571 --> 00:32:54,091 Speaker 3: Vagos robbed a couple inside. Burton says that law enforcement's 547 00:32:54,131 --> 00:32:57,491 Speaker 3: relationship with the bikers was all strategic, a way to 548 00:32:57,491 --> 00:33:03,651 Speaker 3: gather intel and maintain order. This dynamic seems problematic, like 549 00:33:03,691 --> 00:33:06,611 Speaker 3: it could be used as a cover for criminal behavior, 550 00:33:07,571 --> 00:33:10,451 Speaker 3: like for example, when Burton hell's a local member of 551 00:33:10,451 --> 00:33:14,451 Speaker 3: the Health Angels that he and his deputies have got 552 00:33:14,491 --> 00:33:16,171 Speaker 3: his back, and. 553 00:33:16,211 --> 00:33:18,531 Speaker 14: I said, hey, this is members of my team. 554 00:33:18,851 --> 00:33:21,611 Speaker 8: They have already been told that at any. 555 00:33:21,411 --> 00:33:24,931 Speaker 14: Time you can call them and that they will respond 556 00:33:25,011 --> 00:33:28,251 Speaker 14: to you even when I'm gone, as if it was me. 557 00:33:29,051 --> 00:33:33,211 Speaker 14: And you can trust them because if they violate my 558 00:33:33,451 --> 00:33:37,611 Speaker 14: trust or the trust with you, then they'll deal with me. 559 00:33:38,291 --> 00:33:40,851 Speaker 14: And they don't want to do that because I will 560 00:33:40,891 --> 00:33:44,131 Speaker 14: forever haunt them, and I have forever friends on the 561 00:33:44,211 --> 00:33:47,411 Speaker 14: department who will make their lives miserable if they ruin 562 00:33:47,491 --> 00:33:48,251 Speaker 14: that trust in me. 563 00:33:49,371 --> 00:33:52,771 Speaker 3: Burton had a similar arrangement with members of the Vogos, 564 00:33:53,611 --> 00:33:54,331 Speaker 3: and as soon. 565 00:33:54,171 --> 00:33:57,171 Speaker 8: As they would see who I would was, they knew 566 00:33:57,211 --> 00:33:59,291 Speaker 8: I wasn't going to screw with them, and I would 567 00:33:59,291 --> 00:34:02,611 Speaker 8: just say, hey, desert Rick, what's up. What's going on? 568 00:34:03,171 --> 00:34:06,091 Speaker 8: Everything cool? You guys behaving and it's funny and a 569 00:34:06,091 --> 00:34:08,290 Speaker 8: lot of these things. They would always say, well, you know, 570 00:34:08,371 --> 00:34:10,611 Speaker 8: Sergeant Burton, we don't get in our own backyard. 571 00:34:12,250 --> 00:34:16,171 Speaker 3: But sometimes they do shit in their own backyard, and 572 00:34:16,250 --> 00:34:20,611 Speaker 3: aw Ja's disappearance might be one of those times, because, 573 00:34:20,651 --> 00:34:24,771 Speaker 3: according to witnesses, the Voggos know exactly what happened to 574 00:34:24,851 --> 00:34:33,051 Speaker 3: the deputy. 575 00:34:39,971 --> 00:34:43,731 Speaker 2: The relationship between the bikers and local deputies creates major 576 00:34:43,851 --> 00:34:47,651 Speaker 2: hurdles for Hagar and Brandenburg. Even when witnesses are brave 577 00:34:47,731 --> 00:34:50,971 Speaker 2: enough to come forward, they often change their minds before 578 00:34:50,971 --> 00:34:53,091 Speaker 2: giving the detectives the information they need. 579 00:34:53,971 --> 00:34:56,051 Speaker 1: They didn't know who to trust. Didn't that make sense? 580 00:34:56,931 --> 00:34:59,651 Speaker 1: So they say, I ain't saying shit. I just want 581 00:34:59,651 --> 00:35:02,931 Speaker 1: to stay alive and I'm gonna go hid. Well, that's 582 00:35:03,051 --> 00:35:03,731 Speaker 1: what happened. 583 00:35:05,131 --> 00:35:07,851 Speaker 2: It happened with the witness we'll call Tina. Hagar and 584 00:35:07,891 --> 00:35:10,491 Speaker 2: Brandenburg get a call from a lawyer with big news. 585 00:35:11,491 --> 00:35:15,131 Speaker 2: He says his client knows the location of Aujay's remains. 586 00:35:17,091 --> 00:35:19,931 Speaker 2: Up until now, people have said Aujay was dropped in 587 00:35:19,971 --> 00:35:23,411 Speaker 2: a hole, but this is the first person claiming specific 588 00:35:23,451 --> 00:35:28,131 Speaker 2: knowledge of where he was buried. It's a hot tip 589 00:35:28,651 --> 00:35:31,451 Speaker 2: and could unlock the whole mystery of what happened on 590 00:35:31,531 --> 00:35:32,411 Speaker 2: June eleventh. 591 00:35:32,211 --> 00:35:33,091 Speaker 5: Nineteen ninety eight. 592 00:35:34,571 --> 00:35:36,771 Speaker 2: So Hager meets with the lawyer and sets up a 593 00:35:36,771 --> 00:35:40,571 Speaker 2: time to meet with his client Tina, But she never shows, 594 00:35:41,011 --> 00:35:45,131 Speaker 2: not the first time, not the second time. So Brandenburg 595 00:35:45,171 --> 00:35:47,851 Speaker 2: takes a crack at it and finds out where Tina's staying. 596 00:35:48,931 --> 00:35:51,611 Speaker 2: When he gets there, she refuses to open the door, 597 00:35:52,011 --> 00:35:55,251 Speaker 2: saying she can't trust him because quote, there are dirty 598 00:35:55,251 --> 00:36:00,370 Speaker 2: cops out there. Brandenburg reassures Tina he's no dirty cop, 599 00:36:01,251 --> 00:36:03,131 Speaker 2: and eventually she agrees to talk. 600 00:36:04,771 --> 00:36:08,651 Speaker 1: She said that there was a guy in the bottle 601 00:36:08,651 --> 00:36:12,770 Speaker 1: of motorcycle game and his name was Big Rick, and 602 00:36:13,091 --> 00:36:16,051 Speaker 1: she said he was involved in this burder of the deputy, 603 00:36:16,091 --> 00:36:18,011 Speaker 1: and that she had been shown where he was buried, 604 00:36:19,131 --> 00:36:22,251 Speaker 1: which we went wow, okay, by who? And she says 605 00:36:22,251 --> 00:36:23,611 Speaker 1: Big Rick Shiller. 606 00:36:25,691 --> 00:36:30,131 Speaker 2: A name, a supposed confession, and the possibility of forensic evidence. 607 00:36:30,771 --> 00:36:34,851 Speaker 2: It's a stunning revelation. Brandenburgh does his homework and finds 608 00:36:34,851 --> 00:36:37,491 Speaker 2: out Big Rick isn't just a member of the Voggos. 609 00:36:37,971 --> 00:36:41,531 Speaker 2: He's the sergeant at arms, the muscle, the enforcer. 610 00:36:42,331 --> 00:36:44,531 Speaker 8: And as soon as they would seen who I was, 611 00:36:45,011 --> 00:36:47,011 Speaker 8: they knew I wasn't going to screw with them. 612 00:36:47,731 --> 00:36:49,891 Speaker 2: And it seems he went by multiple names. 613 00:36:50,411 --> 00:36:53,611 Speaker 8: I would just think, hey, Desert Rick, what's up? What's 614 00:36:53,651 --> 00:36:54,091 Speaker 8: going on? 615 00:36:56,691 --> 00:36:59,571 Speaker 2: Big Rick is also a big time meths supplier, and 616 00:36:59,611 --> 00:37:02,651 Speaker 2: according to court records, he was known for using extreme 617 00:37:02,851 --> 00:37:06,051 Speaker 2: force to collect on drug debts and he's got the 618 00:37:06,131 --> 00:37:10,451 Speaker 2: look to match a prison yard hulk Hogan. So yeah, 619 00:37:10,771 --> 00:37:14,251 Speaker 2: Tina's scared to cross him, which is why she shuts 620 00:37:14,251 --> 00:37:17,531 Speaker 2: the conversation down before Brandenburg can find out the location 621 00:37:17,931 --> 00:37:19,491 Speaker 2: of Aujy's alleged grave. 622 00:37:20,971 --> 00:37:23,491 Speaker 1: It was, you know, it's like search up for a 623 00:37:23,531 --> 00:37:25,851 Speaker 1: Neil Haystack house there in that desert, that mountain. 624 00:37:27,251 --> 00:37:30,691 Speaker 3: And so you couldn't convince her to show you. 625 00:37:30,731 --> 00:37:33,891 Speaker 1: No, she wasn't going with us on a little field trip. 626 00:37:34,571 --> 00:37:37,290 Speaker 1: She did not want to do that. She wasn't going 627 00:37:37,291 --> 00:37:38,971 Speaker 1: that far. It was hard a gear ago this far. 628 00:37:40,851 --> 00:37:43,571 Speaker 3: Tina's story wouldn't be the only time big Rick's name 629 00:37:43,651 --> 00:37:46,810 Speaker 3: came up in connection to the auj case. Big Rick 630 00:37:46,931 --> 00:37:50,211 Speaker 3: was identified by Hagar and Operation Silent Thunder as a 631 00:37:50,291 --> 00:37:53,331 Speaker 3: lynchpin in the meth production process. He was in a 632 00:37:53,371 --> 00:37:56,730 Speaker 3: fedroan supplier, which means he obtained and distributed one of 633 00:37:56,731 --> 00:38:00,290 Speaker 3: the key ingredients for making meth. A fedron is found 634 00:38:00,331 --> 00:38:03,171 Speaker 3: in decongestins like pseudafed and was legal to buy at 635 00:38:03,171 --> 00:38:07,011 Speaker 3: the time, but only unlimited quantities. Big Rick had a 636 00:38:07,011 --> 00:38:10,051 Speaker 3: work around, though he used a connection had the next 637 00:38:10,131 --> 00:38:13,291 Speaker 3: county over where Hager says Rick would buy a vedron 638 00:38:13,371 --> 00:38:15,730 Speaker 3: in bulk and then distribute it to meth cooks in 639 00:38:15,771 --> 00:38:19,571 Speaker 3: the Greater Pear Blossom area, to people like Beard and 640 00:38:19,611 --> 00:38:21,131 Speaker 3: Methaclause Tom hinkle. 641 00:38:22,211 --> 00:38:24,931 Speaker 6: All the myth was coming to Tom Hinkles so he 642 00:38:24,971 --> 00:38:27,091 Speaker 6: could sell the meth out of his house. 643 00:38:28,931 --> 00:38:31,891 Speaker 3: And that's why Hager takes note when a tip comes 644 00:38:31,931 --> 00:38:35,211 Speaker 3: in that puts big Rick in the Devil's punch bowl. 645 00:38:35,411 --> 00:38:39,811 Speaker 3: On the day of Aujay's disappearance, according to a new witness. 646 00:38:40,251 --> 00:38:42,611 Speaker 3: Big Rick said he was making it a Fedron deal 647 00:38:42,811 --> 00:38:45,491 Speaker 3: in the punch bowl when he was approached by a cop, 648 00:38:45,811 --> 00:38:49,131 Speaker 3: and so he shot and killed him, adding that the 649 00:38:49,171 --> 00:38:52,931 Speaker 3: cop was stupid thinking he could make the bust by himself. 650 00:38:55,891 --> 00:38:58,491 Speaker 3: So in July two thousand and one, when Big Rick 651 00:38:58,611 --> 00:39:03,531 Speaker 3: is arrested during Operation Silent Thunder, Hager sees an opportunity 652 00:39:03,651 --> 00:39:05,731 Speaker 3: to gather more intel on him. 653 00:39:06,331 --> 00:39:12,011 Speaker 6: So we take big Rick to jail down federal custody. 654 00:39:10,931 --> 00:39:14,171 Speaker 3: Where his phone calls are recorded. So when big Rick 655 00:39:14,251 --> 00:39:17,011 Speaker 3: calls home, Hager says he got a chance to hear it. 656 00:39:18,051 --> 00:39:19,011 Speaker 5: Listen to the phone call. 657 00:39:19,091 --> 00:39:22,411 Speaker 6: He calls the house, talks to his son, said did 658 00:39:22,451 --> 00:39:23,531 Speaker 6: they find the gun? 659 00:39:24,931 --> 00:39:28,051 Speaker 3: Law enforcement had recently served a search warrant at big 660 00:39:28,131 --> 00:39:29,011 Speaker 3: Rick's house. 661 00:39:29,891 --> 00:39:32,411 Speaker 6: And his son said, no, they missed it. They didn't 662 00:39:32,411 --> 00:39:36,251 Speaker 6: find because he had a false compartment under the floor 663 00:39:36,251 --> 00:39:36,971 Speaker 6: of his closet. 664 00:39:38,491 --> 00:39:41,091 Speaker 3: Big Rick is still worried about that gun, though. 665 00:39:41,491 --> 00:39:43,531 Speaker 6: And he goes, you know what would happen if they 666 00:39:43,571 --> 00:39:46,571 Speaker 6: found that gun. I'd be looking at the death penalty. 667 00:39:47,731 --> 00:39:50,690 Speaker 6: Make sure that gun disappears. He goes, Dad, I got 668 00:39:50,731 --> 00:39:51,371 Speaker 6: it taken care of. 669 00:39:54,051 --> 00:39:57,730 Speaker 3: Hagar's hackles go up because a guy like big Rick 670 00:39:57,771 --> 00:40:02,251 Speaker 3: would not be stressing over just any illegal firearm. Bikers 671 00:40:02,291 --> 00:40:06,451 Speaker 3: like big Rick run guns in their sleep, so this 672 00:40:06,571 --> 00:40:10,451 Speaker 3: gun must have some history to it, and Hagar wonders 673 00:40:10,771 --> 00:40:12,491 Speaker 3: if it might be connected to Auj. 674 00:40:13,491 --> 00:40:17,770 Speaker 6: That statement was just in my book, is huge. Why 675 00:40:17,851 --> 00:40:21,211 Speaker 6: are you concern about a death penalty over a fire. 676 00:40:22,131 --> 00:40:24,891 Speaker 6: You can go out and kill anybody you want. You're 677 00:40:24,891 --> 00:40:27,811 Speaker 6: not going to get the death penalty in California. But 678 00:40:27,891 --> 00:40:29,811 Speaker 6: if you killed a cop, that was the death penalty, 679 00:40:30,891 --> 00:40:33,291 Speaker 6: and that was the only missing cop that I know 680 00:40:33,771 --> 00:40:35,331 Speaker 6: in that time period. 681 00:40:36,371 --> 00:40:40,611 Speaker 3: California rarely executes people, the last one was in two 682 00:40:40,611 --> 00:40:44,571 Speaker 3: thousand and six, but one of the special circumstances used 683 00:40:44,691 --> 00:40:48,131 Speaker 3: to invoke capital punishment here is the murder of a 684 00:40:48,211 --> 00:40:52,731 Speaker 3: law enforcement officer. In fact, a California man was recently 685 00:40:52,771 --> 00:40:57,651 Speaker 3: sentenced to death for killing a cop. So Hagar's right, 686 00:40:58,051 --> 00:41:02,451 Speaker 3: big Rick's statement is suspicious, especially in light of everything 687 00:41:02,491 --> 00:41:06,211 Speaker 3: else Hagar and Brandenburg have heard, like big Rick taking 688 00:41:06,251 --> 00:41:10,651 Speaker 3: Tina to Auj's alleged gravesite until another witness he killed 689 00:41:10,651 --> 00:41:14,371 Speaker 3: a cop, and the eyewitness who says he saw Auj 690 00:41:14,691 --> 00:41:18,531 Speaker 3: in the punch bowl with two bikers he here thinks 691 00:41:18,531 --> 00:41:19,291 Speaker 3: he's onto something. 692 00:41:20,411 --> 00:41:22,531 Speaker 6: We just need that one person to say I was there, 693 00:41:23,251 --> 00:41:28,171 Speaker 6: this is what happened. It wasn't a suicide. AJ's not 694 00:41:28,211 --> 00:41:32,371 Speaker 6: in Alaska, he's not working for the government. He was 695 00:41:32,651 --> 00:41:34,371 Speaker 6: murdered at the punch bowl. 696 00:41:36,171 --> 00:41:39,730 Speaker 2: Brandenburg thinks he's got a line on that person. When 697 00:41:39,731 --> 00:41:42,571 Speaker 2: a woman comes forward saying that her longtime friend is 698 00:41:42,651 --> 00:41:46,251 Speaker 2: dating a Vogos member and has insider knowledge of what 699 00:41:46,291 --> 00:41:46,971 Speaker 2: happened to Auj. 700 00:41:48,011 --> 00:41:49,730 Speaker 1: She had told her the story that she was in 701 00:41:49,811 --> 00:41:52,690 Speaker 1: this Bogo party in the garage and she overheard the 702 00:41:52,771 --> 00:41:56,411 Speaker 1: statement that aujiy had this deputy, not Auj didn't know 703 00:41:56,451 --> 00:41:59,611 Speaker 1: his name, I don't think, but he came across a 704 00:41:59,731 --> 00:42:02,571 Speaker 1: meth lab, but that was the Bogos were involved with, 705 00:42:02,891 --> 00:42:04,451 Speaker 1: and he was going to be a hero and he. 706 00:42:04,411 --> 00:42:08,051 Speaker 2: Was taking care of It's the same story that Brandenburg's 707 00:42:08,051 --> 00:42:11,451 Speaker 2: been hearing over and over again. There's one detail that 708 00:42:11,531 --> 00:42:16,571 Speaker 2: makes this tip stand out though. The Vogelas were reportedly 709 00:42:16,611 --> 00:42:20,131 Speaker 2: telling this story within a few days of au Jay's disappearance, 710 00:42:21,011 --> 00:42:23,811 Speaker 2: and Brandenburg thinks they're not going to brag about killing 711 00:42:23,811 --> 00:42:27,091 Speaker 2: a cop unless they're sure he's dead. 712 00:42:27,691 --> 00:42:29,651 Speaker 1: Because then you're gonna look like fools on the street. 713 00:42:30,451 --> 00:42:33,091 Speaker 1: We're taking credit for big bad bikers taking care of 714 00:42:33,091 --> 00:42:36,091 Speaker 1: his deputy sheriff. And now they find them alive up 715 00:42:36,091 --> 00:42:39,690 Speaker 1: there in the mountains or in Alaska or wherever. You 716 00:42:39,731 --> 00:42:45,171 Speaker 1: look pretty stupid. So that's why I thought people don't 717 00:42:45,171 --> 00:42:46,051 Speaker 1: make up shit like that. 718 00:42:47,891 --> 00:42:49,771 Speaker 2: So he sets out to find the woman who is 719 00:42:49,811 --> 00:42:53,131 Speaker 2: at the biker party, who we're gonna call Jen, but 720 00:42:53,251 --> 00:42:56,810 Speaker 2: she keeps dodging Brandenburg, which he takes to mean he's 721 00:42:56,851 --> 00:42:57,651 Speaker 2: on the right track. 722 00:42:58,531 --> 00:43:01,931 Speaker 1: If the informants somebody's in jail, for instance, and they 723 00:43:01,971 --> 00:43:03,531 Speaker 1: call you and they say, hey, I got some real 724 00:43:03,571 --> 00:43:07,731 Speaker 1: good info on something, come talk to me. You're always skeptical. Okay, 725 00:43:07,731 --> 00:43:10,411 Speaker 1: what do you want return? But when you get it, 726 00:43:10,491 --> 00:43:13,250 Speaker 1: like this girl didn't raise her hands. She wasn't calling us, hey, 727 00:43:13,251 --> 00:43:16,210 Speaker 1: come talk to me. No, she was hiding from us. 728 00:43:17,491 --> 00:43:20,371 Speaker 2: Jen had only told a close friend or two, had 729 00:43:20,411 --> 00:43:23,611 Speaker 2: never reached out to the cops directly, and when Brandenburg 730 00:43:23,691 --> 00:43:27,730 Speaker 2: does eventually find her, she still won't talk. Not at 731 00:43:27,771 --> 00:43:29,091 Speaker 2: first anyway. 732 00:43:29,571 --> 00:43:31,051 Speaker 1: I don't know, I don't know, I don't know. And 733 00:43:31,051 --> 00:43:34,571 Speaker 1: then we pressed her and she finally said, you guys, 734 00:43:34,611 --> 00:43:37,611 Speaker 1: you're all connected. Cops, dirty, good and bad. You're all 735 00:43:37,651 --> 00:43:40,891 Speaker 1: the same, and she said she didn't trust any of us. 736 00:43:42,931 --> 00:43:45,211 Speaker 2: This is emerging as a pattern for brandon Burg and 737 00:43:45,251 --> 00:43:49,171 Speaker 2: Hager witnesses and informants who are scared of the cops. 738 00:43:50,211 --> 00:43:53,091 Speaker 1: Miss went on to say that she heard from a 739 00:43:53,131 --> 00:43:55,611 Speaker 1: friend who she refused to name, that Deputy Alogy was 740 00:43:55,651 --> 00:43:58,211 Speaker 1: jogging near the punch bowl when he came across Deputy 741 00:43:58,371 --> 00:44:00,411 Speaker 1: Ingle's meth lab and was killed. 742 00:44:01,571 --> 00:44:03,851 Speaker 2: Deputy Angle's meth lab. 743 00:44:04,811 --> 00:44:07,411 Speaker 1: The word on the street among the close circle of 744 00:44:07,491 --> 00:44:10,411 Speaker 1: drug dealers has been a deputy has been involved with 745 00:44:10,491 --> 00:44:12,051 Speaker 1: drugs for a very long time. 746 00:44:12,931 --> 00:44:16,691 Speaker 2: As in La County Sheriff's Deputy Rick Angles. 747 00:44:18,491 --> 00:44:22,491 Speaker 1: Yeah, that's pretty pretty frightening. 748 00:44:24,891 --> 00:44:27,851 Speaker 2: If this alleged dirty deputy was involved in the local 749 00:44:27,931 --> 00:44:33,011 Speaker 2: myth trade, what else could he be involved in? That's 750 00:44:33,091 --> 00:44:35,331 Speaker 2: next time on Valley of Shadows. 751 00:44:37,291 --> 00:44:41,891 Speaker 9: There was an inappropriate relationship between Rick Angles and at 752 00:44:42,011 --> 00:44:44,371 Speaker 9: least one drug dealer in the area. 753 00:44:45,171 --> 00:44:47,891 Speaker 1: Then I started interviewing other people and Rick Engle's name 754 00:44:47,931 --> 00:44:49,290 Speaker 1: starts coming up more and more and more. 755 00:44:50,171 --> 00:44:53,491 Speaker 4: Joey, I believe Angles is a dirty cop. Absolutely. 756 00:45:13,171 --> 00:45:16,331 Speaker 3: If you have any information or tips related to the disappearance, 757 00:45:16,331 --> 00:45:20,291 Speaker 3: of John Aujay. Please call two one three, two six, 758 00:45:20,451 --> 00:45:25,411 Speaker 3: two nine eight eight nine or email Shadows at pushkin 759 00:45:25,491 --> 00:45:30,451 Speaker 3: dot FM. Valley of Shadows is reported, written and produced 760 00:45:30,491 --> 00:45:34,771 Speaker 3: by us Betsy Shepherd and Haley Fox. Our editor is 761 00:45:34,851 --> 00:45:40,571 Speaker 3: Diane Hodson. Our executive producers are Jacob Smith and Alexandra Garaton. 762 00:45:41,291 --> 00:45:46,251 Speaker 3: Original music by Jake Gorsky, Ray Lynch, Mike Jersich, and 763 00:45:46,331 --> 00:45:51,810 Speaker 3: Hayden Gardner. Sound design by Jake Gorsky, fact checking by 764 00:45:51,811 --> 00:45:57,011 Speaker 3: Anaica Robbins, additional production support by Sonya Gerwitt and our 765 00:45:57,051 --> 00:46:00,331 Speaker 3: show art was designed by Sean Carney and Betsy Shepherd. 766 00:46:00,931 --> 00:46:03,731 Speaker 3: Special thanks to Nick White for the show art. Photo. 767 00:46:04,891 --> 00:46:08,371 Speaker 3: Value of Shadows is a production of Pushkin Industries. To 768 00:46:08,411 --> 00:46:13,811 Speaker 3: find more Pushkin podcast listen on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, 769 00:46:13,931 --> 00:46:17,210 Speaker 3: or wherever you listen to podcasts from type to Fun. 770 00:46:17,651 --> 00:46:26,770 Speaker 3: We're Betsy and Hayley. See you next week.