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Watch out, meat heads: While administering street justice to cyclists who dare touch your precious vehicle, keep in mind you may be photographed for posterity on the internets. And that photo may lead to other photos, like this one here, depicting one Gus Gonzalez, who Streetsblog believes is the man who allegedly assaulted a cyclist during a road rage on Ninth Avenue incident last month. A lawyer used the license plate seen in the photos track down the vehicle's owner; it's registered to Flushing resident Laura DiSpirito, whose Facebook page (since made private) shows her on the beach with her husband "Gus." We'd know that gut anywhere.
And Streetsblog did even more reporting than any respectable "blog" really should, getting on the phone to the Manhattan DA's office. A staffer confirmed that a defendant named Gus Gonzalez has a court date scheduled for July 13th, when he will face a charge of third degree assault. The cyclist, Ray Bengen, faces "criminal mischief" charges—for slapping the SUV in an attempt alert the driver that he was cutting him off in the bike lane.
Tellingly, third degree assault is a Class A misdemeanor, as is the charge filed against Bengen. So in the DA's eyes, touching someone's ride is as criminal as assaulting someone's body. To be fair, the ride in question is a Ford Excursion.
Streetsblog's Ben Fried justifies publishing the photo because "if you drive away from the scene of a confrontation after inflicting bodily harm on someone, and you get to preserve your anonymity, it's a license to act like a sociopath." We're just running it because this guy's an asshole (allegedly!). As for Bengen, he told WCBS 2, "From what I understand, this is the state of New York against a humble, English Jew driving down a bike lane.
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Yep. He looks like a douchenozzle.
Put a Shirt on!!!!!!! That gut is gross.
Yes, more Murrow style unbiased reporting from those fanatics at streetsblog.
Sarcasm fail. They decidedly promote an agenda and make their biases very clear.
I think someone with "unrepentant" as part of their screen name with a pict is the last person to accuse others as being fanatics.
Thanks for trying!
"he will face a charge of third degree assault. Which is news, because it was previously believed that only the cyclist, Ray Bengen, faced charges."
Don't know why people were thinking that. The Gothamist post a few days ago said this: "The DA's office is also pursuing assault charges against the SUV driver."
Roman nose, Spanish name, giant SUV; this guy is total Queens/LI meatiness, and apparently a dick.
Yay for the Internets!
I feel sorry for Bengen -- the dude's 63. Gus would have had a cleat tattoo on his fat gut and paid to fix some real dents and broken glass if he'd pulled that on a more typical NYC cyclist. Maybe not the Streetsblog crybabies -- they'd have nothing to whine about online.
Gusmobile would have been fucked up and watch me ride away while you call the cops -- good luck finding me, pigs.
It's a classic meathead move on Gus's part. Feel like a big man by picking a fight with someone who's not going to fight back.
What a dick. He deserves everything coming to him.
What a beautiful man... wait... someone get the harpoon, it's Moby DICK.
Is that knuckle-dragger Gus Gonzalez a cop? If so, that would certainly explain a lot of things.
Perhaps if the biker had taken a different tact, say try to address the guy in a civil manner, I would have more sympathy for him. However, he is the instigator, by hitting someone's car. Hence, his arrest as well. When I see bikers go through red lights, as nearly all do, I dont jam a stick in their tires and send them flying. If he did nothing wrong he wouldnt have a court date as well. Everyone thinks they are tough, until they face someone bigger than them.
"he is the instigator, by hitting someone's car"
Uh no, he is not. The driver of the car was the instigator, as he was driving in the bike lane while someone was biking in it.
You clearly didn't read the account given by the cyclist.
First of all, the SUV was seemingly parked in the bike lane, with no lights or turn signals on -- so the cyclist started to go around him. He only hit the SUV when it started to move, threatening to crush him.
Also, not ALL cyclists go through lights. Way to generalize there. In any case, do YOU ever cross against the light? I'll bet you do. Your comment about jamming a stick in a cyclist's wheel isn't any different from a cyclist (or a car) intentionally hitting a jaywalking pedestrian, and I'm guessing you aren't going to agree with that idea.
Rolltide23,
You're kidding right? The driver was driving in a clearly marked bike lane separated by physical barriers (have you seen the bike lanes on 9th ave?) and he was about to hit a cyclist. What would you do if someone was about to drive into you? Raise your pinky and say: "Um, excuse me sir. I believe you are about to..." BAMN!
The cyclist was more than reasonable.
You must understand that cars of Americans are extensions of their own personalities and self identification. By hitting the car the cyclist was really hitting the driver in the face. He really should have thought this out before acting. Im sure you'll agree that nobody likes to get hit in the face.
Actually, I always thought it was more like touching their little wee-wees.
A noxious fat fuck in an SUV? Who heard of such a thing?
Since SUVs are noxious and fat...
Catnip for the commenters....everyone can feel superior without challenge in this thread
Including yourself! High-fives all around!