What to Know
- An NYPD officer has been convicted for pistol-whipping another driver during a road rage attack on New Year's Day last year
- Michael Baror was convicted of charges including assault, reckless driving and criminal possession of a weapon
- Baror is expected to be sentenced on May 8
An NYPD officer has been convicted for pistol-whipping and bashing another driver with handcuffs during a road rage attack on New Year’s Day last year, prosecutors say.
Michael Baror, 25, a former Transit District 32 officer, was convicted 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 on Tuesday, the Brooklyn District Attorney’s Office said.
Baror “endangered the life of not only the victim he assaulted but those drivers and pedestrians who shared the road with him that evening,” District Attorney Eric Gonzalez said in a statement.
“The fact that he is a trained police officer makes his behavior even more disturbing,” Gonzalez said. “There is no place on our street for road rage, and now a jury has held the defendant accountable for his brazen criminal conduct."
Prosecutors say Baror was driving a Jeep Cherokee in Midwood, Brooklyn around 10:30 p.m. on Jan. 1, 2018 when he started flashing his high beams at a car in front of him before rear-ending it.
The Jeep had illegal lights and sirens on it, the DA’s office said.
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After he rear-ended the car, Baror got out, pulled out his gun and pistol-whipped the 29-year-old driver before hitting him in the face with handcuffs. He drove off after the attack, according to the DA’s office.
The 29-year-old man and his girlfriend called 911 and started following Baror in their car, prosecutors said. Baror tried to hide his license plate with an electronic device as the man’s girlfriend was reporting his plate number, the DA’s office said.
Both Baror and the victim were speeding and cruising through red lights during the pursuit; the victim ultimately crashed into Baror’s vehicle, according to the DA’s office.
Baror fled the scene before police showed up, but was arrested the next day.
The victim had to get stitches on his mouth and was treated for a swollen and bruised face and head, a cut on his nose and an injured shoulder, the DA’s office said.
Baror is expected to be sentenced on May 8.