01-15-10
Douglas Stangeland Search Warrant
On 1/11/10 the Bates County Sheriff's Office assisted Sheriff Ron Peckman and the Vernon County Sheriff's Office with the
execution of a search warrant. The target of the search warrant was the residence of Douglas Stangeland of rural Vernon County.
The search warrant was in regards to an investigation into the November home invasion/shooting of a Richards, Missouri resident.
William J Barger formerly of Rich Hill, Missouri was arrested at the Stangeland residence and transported to the Vernon County
Sheriff's Office and held on numerous charges. It was also believed that Andrew Wadel had been living at the Stangeland residence.
On 1/12/10 members of the Bates County Sheriff's Office executed a search warrant on a Foster, Missouri residence belonging to
Lonnie E. Swarnes. The search warrant was in regards to the home invasion in Richards, Missouri in early November. The residence
was unoccupied at the time and several items of evidence were seized and turned over to the Vernon County Sheriff's Office.
In early November a Richards, Missouri residence was invaded by three armed masked men. One of the occupants of residence was
shot in the hand with a shotgun. Both residents of the Richards, Missouri home were then bound to kitchen chairs.
The suspects believed to be involved in the home invasion and in the New Jersey kidnapping case claim to be members of the
Hells Angels. The Bates County Sheriff's Office first became aware of William Barger's claim to the Hells Angels in June of
2009. The Bates County Sheriff's Office received information that Barger was attempting to start what he called the "Heartland"
Chapter of the Hells Angels. During this investigation Barger was recruiting local people to be pledges.
During the investigation it was revealed that Barger had also attempted to find pledges that would kill Bates County Sheriff
Chad Anderson and Chief Deputy Justin Moreland. This information sparked a call to the ATF and the Organized Crime Unit of
the Missouri State Highway Patrol. Barger and several of his alleged club members were brought into the Sheriff's Office where
they were interviewed by the members of the investigating team. During the interview, Barger again laid claim that the founder
of the Hells Angels, Sonny Barger, was his father and that he was a full pledged patched member of the Hells Angels.
As of today the investigation is still ongoing but no ties to the Hells Angels has been connected to William Barger. In an
article by the Daily Record of New Jersey an email from an attorney representing Sonny Barger states that Sonny Barger has no
children and that he has never heard of William Barger and William Barger has no ties to the Hells Angels.
The Bates County Sheriff's Office continues to assist the Vernon County Sheriff's Office and the investigating agencies of New
Jersey in regards to the kidnapping of Jeff Muller and potential charges linked to other members connected to Barger's club.
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