Status Report: Ninth Avenue Road Rage Case

As reader Omri noted in the comments on the calendar post, this week cyclist Ray Bengen and SUV driver Gus Gonzalez have separate dates in Manhattan Criminal Court. Bengen was charged with criminal mischief, a class A misdemeanor, after getting knocked to the pavement and badly bruised while attempting to get around an SUV stopped in the Ninth Avenue bike lane. Gonzalez, allegedly the driver of said SUV, has been charged with third degree assault, also a class A misdemeanor.

We’re tracking both cases, and we’ll keep you posted on any developments. While Gonzalez and Bengen are both supposed to present their desk appearance tickets in court this week (Gonzalez today and Bengen tomorrow), it looks like there won’t be much new to report. Each case is still in a very preliminary phase, and, should the DA choose to move forward with prosecution, arraignments are unlikely until next week at the earliest.

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Legal Ordeal Continues for Driver Assault Victim Ray Bengen

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Ray Bengen had his day in Manhattan Criminal Court this morning, but it might not be his last appearance at 100 Centre Street. Hit with a potential "criminal mischief" charge by the Manhattan DA’s office after getting doored, bruised, and screamed at by an SUV driver in the Ninth Avenue bike lane (allegedly this man: […]

Road Rage Victim’s Reputation Smeared Until Proven Innocent

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Ray Bengen, pictured on the sidewalk below his assailant, is paying a steep price for defending himself while riding in the Ninth Avenue bike lane. Following Brad’s post last week about one pedestrian’s encounter with an enraged driver and the NYPD, I caught up with Ray Bengen, another New Yorker charged with criminal mischief after […]

Tune in Now: Ninth Avenue Road Rage Incident on CBS 2 News

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Ray Bengen, the cyclist who was assaulted by the driver of a Ford Excursion blocking the Ninth Avenue bike lane, will appear tonight on the 6:00 p.m. edition of the CBS 2 local news. Ray just emailed to say the producers have confirmed they’ll broadcast a segment featuring him explaining the road rage incident. Let’s […]