Biker associates acquitted of assault charges

KELOWNA, B.C. – Two men who RCMP say are Hells Angels gang associates have been acquitted of assault charges.

Pedro Amestica and Thomas Volker were accused of punching a Kelowna Mountie in the face.

The charges stem from a fight outside of a nightclub in downtown Kelowna in December of 2011.

The Kelowna judge acquitted the men last week after accepting their explanation that they didn't know the person they hit was a uniformed officer.

At the time, police said that two RCMP officers were trying to break up the fight when one was jumped from behind, put in a headlock, and punched several times.

Thirty-nine-year-old Amestica was charged with assaulting a police officer and resisting arrest, and 37-year-old Thomas Volker was charged with assaulting a police officer.(CHBC, CKFR)