Perjury charge dismissed against Seattle cop who shot Hells Angel

Perjury charges have been dismissed against a Seattle police detective who shot a member of the Hells Angels motorcycle club last month during the annual Sturgis Motorcycle Rally in South Dakota.

In late August, Ron Smith was charged with aggravated assault and perjury after a two-day grand jury hearing by the Meade County, S.D., Circuit Court. He was also charged with a misdemeanor count of carrying a concealed weapon without a permit.

Smith claims he shot Hells Angel Joseph McGuire in self-defense during a bar fight in Sturgis.

Smith claimed the firearm he used in the shooting was his personal firearm, but South Dakota authorities said records obtained from the Seattle Police Department revealed that the gun had been issued by the department.

That led to the charge of perjury.

However, Seattle police later discovered that the gun Smith used was not a department-issued gun, but was one purchased by Smith from the Seattle police Athletic Association in 1996.

Meade County State's Attorney Jesse Sondreal said the perjury charge was dismissed "because it was now patently obvious that the charge has no basis in fact."

Smith said he shot McGuire on Aug. 9 after McGuire and a group of bikers jumped him inside the Loud American Roadhouse.

An aggravated-assault charge was filed against McGuire, 33, of Imperial Beach, Calif.

If Smith and McGuire are convicted of aggravated assault, they each face up to 15 years in prison.

Smith had traveled to the rally with fellow members of the Iron Pigs, a motorcycle club made up of police officers and firefighters. Smith said he helped establish the Seattle chapter of the Iron Pigs in 2001 as a "fraternal organization for officers." Smith and other members go on regular rides, including a trip to the Sturgis event.

Smith said this morning that he was pleased the perjury charge had been dismissed, but declined further comment.

Susan Gilmore: 206-464-2054 or sgilmore@seattletimes.com

Information from Seattle Times archives and staff reporter Jennifer Sullivan is included in this report.