According to the criminal complaint, members of the Pagans
came into the bar on South 12th Street, and one of the club members realized
who the police were and blew their cover.
One of the club members became hostile and detectives tried
to control the situation, the complaint said.
Bruce Thomas, one of the men charged, disputes those claims.
He told Pittsburgh's Action News 4 that the undercover officers were visibly
intoxicated and initiated the encounter.
"Next thing you know, one of them said something
disrespectful, and one of our guys got mad and we never knew they were
cops," Thomas said.
Video from the fight shows Thomas being taken down by one of
the undercover officers.
"I got handcuffed, kicked in the ribs, and kneed in the
back and the spine," Thomas said. "I didn't even hit anybody. We
didn't think police would be in a bar drinking."
Surveillance video from the bar was turned over to
Pittsburgh police.
Pittsburgh's Citizen Police Review Board is investigating
the force used and the demeanor of the officers during the incident, and is
asking anyone with information.
SOURCE: Pittsburg Action News