March 29, 2023 A 52-year-old off-duty NYPD sergeant clipped in the shoulder by a motorcycle mirror while walking his dog was beaten by the motorcyclist when the two began to argue.
By Kerry Burke and Thomas Tracy Source New York Daily News Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
An off-duty NYPD sergeant walking his dog on the Upper East Side was attacked for telling a motorcyclist who clipped him to slow down, police and witnesses said Wednesday.
The 52-year-old sergeant was crossing E. 90th St. near First Ave. with his pooch about 7 p.m. Tuesday when a man on a green motorcycle zoomed past him, cops said.
“As he was trying to cross the street with his dog, the motorcycle’s mirror clipped his shoulder,” doorman Felix Rosa, who witnessed the clash, told the Daily News. “The [motorcycle] driver, he hit the brakes-hard. You could hear the screech.”
The two began to argue, with the cop screaming at the motorcyclist to slow down, witnesses said.
Enraged, the motorcyclist got off his bike and charged the off-duty cop, striking him multiple times in the face.
“He went to the officer right up close,” Rosa, 43, said. “He was upset because he broke the mirror of the bike.”
Reeling from the blows, the cop fell to the ground, twisting his ankle, police sources said.
“He tried to get up, but (the motorcyclist) started kicking him on the floor,” Rosa said. “We didn’t know he was a police officer. Nobody did.”
The motorcycle jumped back on his bike and sped off down E. 90th St.
“He just left on his motorcycle,” the doorman said. “I was in shock. It was some crazy stuff.”
The sergeant was taken to New York-Presbyterian Hospital Weill Cornell, where he was treated for minor injuries.
The cop’s faithful pet was no help against the motorcyclist, Rosa remembered.
“The dog didn’t do nothing,” said Rosa. “It was quick to get away.”
Cops on Wednesday released surveillance footage of the motorcyclist and asked the public’s help identifying him and tracking him down.
The suspect is described as between 35 and 45 and about 5-foot-8 and 200 pounds. He was wearing a gray hoodie and black Nazi-style motorcycle helmet with a light or a camera affixed to the top, cops said.
Anyone with information is asked to call Crime Stoppers at (800) 577-TIPS. All calls will be kept confidential.