RICHMOND, Va. (WTVR) -- The Brooklyn biker arrested Tuesday for assaulting a motorist in New York City on Sept. 29th was arrested in Caroline County in 2005 and charged with reckless driving for speeding 92 in a 65 mph zone on Interstate 95.
That charge was dismissed, records show, but 29-year-old Craig D. Wright now faces a much rougher ride.
He allegedly beat and stomped motorist Alexian Lien in front of his wife and child after he was dragged out of his SUV by group of bikers. Wright is charged with gang assault, assault and unlawful imprisonment charges.
Also Tuesday afternoon, New York police arrested one of their own - undercover detective Wojciech Braszczok – who was allegedly part of the motorcycle crew that took part in the attack while ripping through the city. He’s charged with felony riot and criminal mischief charge, according to New York print news reports. A second off-duty officer who took part in the ride could also face charges, according to those reports.
The arrests are piling up, thanks to videos of the ride and the attack. Reginald Chance, 37, was among those charged with gang assault after allegedly smashing out Lien’s window. Robert Sims, 35, has also been charged.
And 28-year-old Christopher Cruz was charged last week with reckless driving and unlawful imprisonment for allegedly pulling in front of Lien to set events in motion that day.
It’s been a generation since the heyday of biker gangs and associated violence. Since then, often when you see large groups of motorcyclists, they’re rolling with toys or teddy bears to help the sick or are trying to raise awareness about various causes.
But with the advent of hyper-quick “sport bikes,” urban stunt riding and group racing has become popular across the country, including here in Richmond.
Burnouts, wheelies and other risky business have become common among those who ride so-called crotch rockets, sometimes in large groups. In Richmond, for example, large groups of sports bike riders gather late at night and race across the Manchester Bridge - in seconds.
We’ve seen some of these bikers killed here in town.
The New York City ride that led to the beating sparked roughly 200 911 calls from alarmed motorists, according to Big Apple news reports.
More arrests are expected.
