Confrontations

Strange Twist in Protracted Ordeal of Arrested Queens Pedestrian

Queens resident Gerald Beekman (an alias we're using at his request), arrested in May after twice being nearly run down by an irate driver in Long Island City, had his first court appearance last month. The case was held over until October, as District Attorney Richard A. Brown's office did not yet have a supporting deposition from the alleged victim, who told police at the 108th Precinct that Beekman damaged the car he was driving. Beekman was charged with criminal mischief, a misdemeanor that carries a sentence of up to 12 months in jail.

By Brad Aaron

2:46 PM EDT on September 8, 2009

Queens resident Gerald Beekman (an alias we’re using at his request), arrested in May after twice being nearly run down by an irate driver in Long Island City, had his first court appearance last month. The case was held over until October, as District Attorney Richard A. Brown’s office did not yet have a supporting deposition from the alleged victim, who told police at the 108th Precinct that Beekman damaged the car he was driving. Beekman was charged with criminal mischief, a misdemeanor that carries a sentence of up to 12 months in jail.

According to a spokesperson with Brown’s office, the case has yet to be assigned to a prosecutor. Oddly, though the driver was male, and Beekman saw no one else in the car, Streetsblog has learned that the complainant is identified as Toya Robinson — presumably a woman, and possibly the car’s owner.

Like Ray Bengen, the Manhattan cyclist assaulted in June by an SUV-wielding hothead, Beekman continues to live under a cloud of severe legal and personal repercussions, all for doing nothing more than attempting to navigate a city street unharmed. NYPD, meanwhile, continues to threaten others waylaid by motorists with a similar fate should they dare to seek justice.

Brad Aaron

Brad Aaron began writing for Streetsblog in 2007, after years as a reporter, editor, and publisher in the alternative weekly business. Brad adopted New York's dysfunctional traffic justice system as his primary beat for Streetsblog. He lives in Manhattan.