Think for a moment if those bikers were flying Confederate flags or MAGA flags.
Cue outrage and demands for actions.
Posted on 08/27/2019 3:41:10 AM PDT by rarestia
TARPON SPRINGS, Fla. — Tarpon Springs Police are investigating a road rage incident that culminated in a shooting Saturday night.
Investigators said a man was driving a black Mercedes with his 9-year-old son in the car southbound on U.S. 19. A group of motorcyclists were in front of them.
"There was a group of motorcyclists that were doing almost a rolling roadblock type of thing where they were slowing down so other motorcyclists could do tricks in front of them," said Major Jeffrey Young with Tarpon Springs Police.
The man told police when he tried to go around them, they started kicking his car and followed him when he turned on Klosterman Avenue.
The situation escalated with the man and his son got stuck at a traffic light.
"At that point, 15-20 motorcyclists surrounded his vehicle and impeded his escape route. They started striking his vehicle," said Major Young. "He was in fear for his safety as well as that of this child. They did damage his vehicle and he wound up shooting outside his driver's window."
Resident Donald Bingler lives near where it happened and heard the commotion.
"We were startled by the noise. I immediately recognized it as gun shots," he explained. "My girlfriend woke up right afterwards, our dog started barking. At first we were hesitant to look out the window because I didn't want to get shot by anybody who might be patrolling the area and then the vehicles just flew by here."
Police said the motorcyclists fled the scene and the driver called 911.
A motorcyclist who was shot in the arm took himself to the hospital for treatment.
No arrests have been made.
Police are looking for the other people involved.
Anyone with information or surveillance video is being asked to call Detective Lemmon with the Tarpon Springs Police Department at 727-938-2849, Ext. 1636.
“As a rider, I see kicking/ punching the car of someone that almost struck me as justified- you throw a two ton punch at me, yeah, your door or fender is going to have a scratch on it as a reminder.
You may not want to bike in FL.
In the least the motorcyclists committed criminal mischief. With a Mercedes I’d say the damage puts them into a felony.
http://www.flsenate.gov/Laws/Statutes/2018/806.13
The man was surrounded and protecting himself, his daughter and his property No question he could have dropped one without issue.
But trying to force your way through their little display a d*ck move too - an argument could be made that his impatience put their lives at risk.
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Your use of the word ‘too’ after dick move implies that the driver trying to go past them was a dick move. I want to be with you when the same thing happens and watch your reaction. How far do you have to drive being their bitch and how much traffic are they allowed to back up before you are no longer a dick to try to pass them?
The cops did nothing because at least one of the bikers WERE cops.
Ex-NYPD undercover cop gets 2 years in bikers' attack on SUV driver
The bikers started it. Then they escalated it.
Think for a moment if those bikers were flying Confederate flags or MAGA flags.
Cue outrage and demands for actions.
Having been in a self-defense situation with a firearm, I can tell you that the legalities of the situation are the farthest thing from your mind.
As a rider I think people who ride in packs and preform on the highways like this are idiots
And endanger not only themselves but every other motorist on the public highways.
As noted they are public highways for the lawful travel from place to place by the public.
Not some play ground for a groups of outlaws.
No description of the thugs, eh? Riiiiiiiight.
I’m going racist now, experience make me do that.
You shoot in response to the very first act of physical aggression, and you take no prisoners. Dead perps can’t make counterclaims. You say nothing to the police except that you were in fear of your life.
Tarpon Springs is my old stomping ground. I can tell you that the perps were likely either Hispanic or white. Tarpon Springs, Palm Harbor, and Oldsmar are all middle- to upper-class suburban areas.
They finally arrested this guy
Run them over ... flat cyclists scare no kids... uprights remaining reconsider actons
See my comment 32
The cops did nothing because at least one of the bikers WERE cops.
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You’re right. I forgot about that!
Lots of words, probably a closer liberal and not a parent
Was that the one where the vicious motorcycle thug turned out to be a cop?
Was that the one where the vicious motorcycle thug turned out to be a cop?
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He was supposed to be “undercover” but he participated in the attack on a couple with their 2-year-old daughter. He smashed out the back windshield of the copuple’s car when the mob then defended on the car and beat the husband bloody. Unbelievable.
I believe you’re biased toward the idiots. Stupid people doing stupid tricks on a public roadway, get stupid prizes, and deservedly so. If the driver is charged and I’m on the jury, it’s a “Not Guilty” in short order. If the tricky rider is charged and I’m on the jury, it’s “Guilty.”
I would have stayed behind and gotten off at the first exit and then hoped that the next Bernie Goetz would come upon their little show.
The driver definitely does not sound to be “enraged,” a bit fearful perhaps. This sort of harassment on the road seems more characteristic of bicycle groups than of motorcycles. I wonder what caused the MCers to begin to pay attention to the car. It is surely not a random thing, not on a city street.
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