Midwood

Cop convicted for Bedford Avenue road rage assault

March 6, 2019 By Rob Abruzzese Brooklyn Daily Eagle
Police siren. Photo by Scott Roth/Invision/AP
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NYPD transit officer Michael Baror, 25, faces up to seven years in prison for pistol-whipping and beating another driver in a road rage incident while off duty on New Year’s Day 2018.

Baror was convicted Wednesday of felony assault, weapons possession, reckless driving and other charges following an attack in which he rear-ended another car, beat the driver with his pistol and handcuffs and then fled the scene — with the other car in pursuit.

During the trial, the DA’s Office said that Baror was driving his Jeep Cherokee, which was illegally equipped with lights and sirens, when he flashed his high beams at and then rear-ended the car in front of him at the intersection of Avenue N and Bedford Avenue in Midwood.

Baror then got out of his car, pulled out his gun and pistol-whipped the 29-year-old driver of the car in front of him. Baror also repeatedly struck the driver with his handcuffs before driving off, prosecutors were able to prove.

The victim’s girlfriend, who was also in the car at the time, called 911 while the victim chased down Baror’s car. She was unable to get the license plate, prosecutors said, because Baror concealed it “with an electronic device.”

The victim eventually crashed their car into Baror’s jeep, but he had fled the scene by the time cops arrived, prosecutors said. Baror did not report the incident to police or his supervisors and was arrested the following day. Prosecutors said that he had removed the lights and sirens from the car and had shaved his head and beard by the time he was arrested.

The victim was treated at the hospital and received stitches to his mouth. He also suffered swelling and bruising around his face and head and had a cut on the top of his head and nose. His shoulder was also injured.

“This defendant endangered the life of not only the victim he assaulted but those drivers and pedestrians who shared the road with him that evening,” said Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez. “The fact that he is a trained police officer makes his behavior even more disturbing. There is no place on our streets for road rage, and now a jury has held the defendant accountable for his brazen criminal conduct.”

Baror, formerly of Transit District 32, was convicted in front of Brooklyn Supreme Court Justice Danny Chun on charges of second-degree assault, fourth-degree criminal possession of a weapon, leaving the scene of an incident without reporting, reckless driving, improper use of a siren and improper display of plates in a jury trial.

Baror will be sentenced, and could face up to seven years in prison on the top charge, at his next court appearance on May 8.

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