Defendant says framed by corrupt Hemet police

— A man charged with attacks on Hemet police says in a jailhouse interview that he's being framed by a corrupt police department and he denies having anything to do with booby traps targeting a detective.

Nicholas John Smit is charged with nine felonies, including conspiracy to commit murder and attempted murder on a police officer. Smit and co-defendant Steven Hansen pleaded not guilty last week.

Smit told the Riverside Press-Enterprise in a jailhouse interview Friday that he's being set up by Hemet police, saying in his words, "Cops are Gods, they choose who they want to go down."

Police and district attorney raids led to arrests of Vagos Motorcycle Club members and white supremacists before the investigation focused on Smit and Hansen.


Information from: The Press-Enterprise,

The Associated Press


