Video shows NYPD cruiser hit Bronx dirt bikers, killing operator and injuring passenger who is now suing city
Adalberto Gonzalez was riding behind Eddie Fernandez when a patrol car struck their dirt bike on Aug. 11, killing Fernandez. Gonzalez’s lawyer has filed suit claiming the officer violated procedure by purposefully ramming the bike and claims the video shows that.
Though the patrol car hit the bike, allegedly on purpose, the 41st Precinct’s commanding officer said that was not the appropriate protocol.
A newly released video shows the moment a police cruiser smashed into a dirt bike during a chase in Hunts Point, killing the bike’s driver and injuring his passenger.
Eddie Fernandez, 28, was killed August 11. His passenger, Adalberto Gonzalez, 27, was injured and arrested.
Adalberto Gonzalez broke his leg in the Aug. 11 crash and faces charges of recklessness. Gonzalez’s lawyer, Peter Ronai, has filed a civil claim against the city seeking millions in damages.
Gonzalez’s attorney has filed a claim against the city for damages in the allegedly purposeful ramming, which is against police protocol.
‘The police officer barrels into them like a scud missile,’ attorney Peter Ronai, who is representing Fernandez’s dirt bike passenger Adalaberto Gonzalez, told NBC. ‘They were dead ducks. They had no chance. Their only crime was riding a dirt bike. They paid with their lives.’
Psychologically, he's ruined. Watching his best friend die was not easy," attorney Peter Ronai told NBC.
Residents of 1148 Bryant Ave. look at the shrine memorial created for the super of the building, Eddie Fernandez, who was trying to elude police riding a dirt bike when he was killed.
He said the video serves as proof that the police officer purposely hit the pair, despite a NYPD directive not to pursue dirt bikers.
"The police officer barrels into them like a scud missile," Ronai said. "They were dead ducks. They had no chance. Their only crime was riding a dirt bike. They paid with their lives."
The video was released ahead of the bike’s passenger, Adalberto Gonzalez, appearing in court Monday for reckless endangerment charges.
Gonzalez is scheduled to appear in court Monday on charges of reckless endangerment, resisting arrest and reckless driving.
New video shows the dirt bike Eddie Fernandez was operating may have allegedly been purposely struck by an NYPD patrol car, which is against protocol.
After the crash, Lt. Hamilton Nunez, of the 41st Precinct, told the Daily News that NYPD policy was not to pursue the dirt bikers because it was too dangerous.
Eddie Fernandez died Aug. 11, 2012 trying to elude police on a dirt bike in the Bronx.
They don’t want us chasing them,” Nunez said. “Whenever we see them pulled over we arrest them. As for chasing them up and down the Bruckner, that’s not happening.”
The NYPD Patrol Guide prohibits “ramming” in an attempt to stop a vehicle.
Footage shows an NYPD patrol car hitting a Bronx dirt bike. The accident resulted in the operator of the bike’s death and its passenger being injured.
Immediately after the crash and before the video’s release, another attorney for Gonzalez was already calling for an investigation and claiming foul play.
“I simply have an issue that riding an unlicensed dirt bike has become a capital offense, punishable by death,” Cesar Gonzalez said in August. “If their policy is not to chase, when did their policy change, that it’s OK to ram? This dirt bike was rammed.”
The video backs up the attorney’s claim. The cruiser appears to be going at a high rate of speed when it slams into the back of the bike at Randall Ave. and Coster St., throwing both men.
"I wasn't harming anybody,” Adalberto Gonzalez, who broke his leg in the crash, told ABC. “My friend should not have died just for having fun.”
sgoldstein@nydailynews.com or follow on Twitter
Adalberto Gonzalez was riding behind Eddie Fernandez when a patrol car struck their dirt bike on Aug. 11, killing Fernandez. Gonzalez’s lawyer has filed suit claiming the officer violated procedure by purposefully ramming the bike and claims the video shows that.
Though the patrol car hit the bike, allegedly on purpose, the 41st Precinct’s commanding officer said that was not the appropriate protocol.
A newly released video shows the moment a police cruiser smashed into a dirt bike during a chase in Hunts Point, killing the bike’s driver and injuring his passenger.
Eddie Fernandez, 28, was killed August 11. His passenger, Adalberto Gonzalez, 27, was injured and arrested.
Adalberto Gonzalez broke his leg in the Aug. 11 crash and faces charges of recklessness. Gonzalez’s lawyer, Peter Ronai, has filed a civil claim against the city seeking millions in damages.
Gonzalez’s attorney has filed a claim against the city for damages in the allegedly purposeful ramming, which is against police protocol.
‘The police officer barrels into them like a scud missile,’ attorney Peter Ronai, who is representing Fernandez’s dirt bike passenger Adalaberto Gonzalez, told NBC. ‘They were dead ducks. They had no chance. Their only crime was riding a dirt bike. They paid with their lives.’
Psychologically, he's ruined. Watching his best friend die was not easy," attorney Peter Ronai told NBC.
Residents of 1148 Bryant Ave. look at the shrine memorial created for the super of the building, Eddie Fernandez, who was trying to elude police riding a dirt bike when he was killed.
He said the video serves as proof that the police officer purposely hit the pair, despite a NYPD directive not to pursue dirt bikers.
"The police officer barrels into them like a scud missile," Ronai said. "They were dead ducks. They had no chance. Their only crime was riding a dirt bike. They paid with their lives."
The video was released ahead of the bike’s passenger, Adalberto Gonzalez, appearing in court Monday for reckless endangerment charges.
Gonzalez is scheduled to appear in court Monday on charges of reckless endangerment, resisting arrest and reckless driving.
New video shows the dirt bike Eddie Fernandez was operating may have allegedly been purposely struck by an NYPD patrol car, which is against protocol.
After the crash, Lt. Hamilton Nunez, of the 41st Precinct, told the Daily News that NYPD policy was not to pursue the dirt bikers because it was too dangerous.
Eddie Fernandez died Aug. 11, 2012 trying to elude police on a dirt bike in the Bronx.
They don’t want us chasing them,” Nunez said. “Whenever we see them pulled over we arrest them. As for chasing them up and down the Bruckner, that’s not happening.”
The NYPD Patrol Guide prohibits “ramming” in an attempt to stop a vehicle.
Footage shows an NYPD patrol car hitting a Bronx dirt bike. The accident resulted in the operator of the bike’s death and its passenger being injured.
Immediately after the crash and before the video’s release, another attorney for Gonzalez was already calling for an investigation and claiming foul play.
“I simply have an issue that riding an unlicensed dirt bike has become a capital offense, punishable by death,” Cesar Gonzalez said in August. “If their policy is not to chase, when did their policy change, that it’s OK to ram? This dirt bike was rammed.”
The video backs up the attorney’s claim. The cruiser appears to be going at a high rate of speed when it slams into the back of the bike at Randall Ave. and Coster St., throwing both men.
"I wasn't harming anybody,” Adalberto Gonzalez, who broke his leg in the crash, told ABC. “My friend should not have died just for having fun.”
sgoldstein@nydailynews.com or follow on Twitter
. If so why are they illegal aside regular motorcycles?
you take the ticket, and pick your shit up at the impound lot with the title... if it's stolen, then I suppose you have another set of issues on your hands
