New York City officials are warning a group of masked dirt bike riders that arrests could be imminent after video captured a chaotic confrontation in which several riders surrounded and attacked a vehicle on a busy Staten Island street.
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riders → warn → street
The crackdown follows a Wednesday incident on Richmond Avenue in Staten Island's Bulls Head neighborhood, where video showed several masked riders swarming a white SUV stopped at a traffic light.
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riders → follow → light
In the video obtained by Fox News Digital, several individuals appeared to kick and strike the vehicle, while another appeared to throw an object at it.
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another → obtain → it
As the driver attempted to leave
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driver → attempt → ?
, the SUV appeared to run over a dirt bike that had been positioned in front of the vehicle.
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that → appear → vehicle
During a news conference Thursday, NYPD Assistant Chief John Buttacavoli warned those involved that police were gathering intelligence and working to identify the suspects.
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police → warn → suspects
"We know who you are, and you will be getting a knock on your door very soon," Buttacavoli said, emphasizing that the behavior had escalated from a quality-of-life concern into criminal activity.
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behavior → know → activity
"It stops here.
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It → stop → ?
We're taking action," he added.
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he → take → action
Staten Island District Attorney Michael McMahon also condemned the riders, accusing them of intimidating motorists and putting innocent people at risk.
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McMahon → condemn → risk
"Like a plague of locusts, they descend upon drivers who are just going about their business here on Staten Island," McMahon said.
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McMahon → descend → Island
"They're jackals, they're teenage terrorists, and it's not going to be tolerated here in our borough.
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it → go → borough
McMahon called the behavior "simply outrageous," adding that no one had been seriously injured, based on the information available to officials.
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one → call → officials
Wednesday's incident was part of a broader pattern of dangerous behavior involving motorized bikes, according to Staten Island Borough President Vito Fossella.
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incident → involve → Fossella
Fossella described the riders as a "bunch of punks who are literally terrorizing drivers" as motorists went about their daily routines.
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motorists → describe → routines
This game is over," Fossella said.
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Fossella → say → ?
The borough president also warned parents that their children were putting innocent motorists at risk.
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children → warn → risk
"Your kid is terrorizing innocent people when they're just going about their business.
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they → terrorize → business
It's wrong, and it needs to stop," Fossella said.
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Fossella → need → ?
McMahon warned that parents could face legal or financial consequences if their children use illegal motorized vehicles to intimidate or injure others, including potential civil liability if someone is hurt.
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someone → warn → liability
"Parents also must take responsibility for their children," McMahon's office said in a separate statement.
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office → take → statement
Police have assembled a task force to address the problem and will continue confiscating illegally operated motorized bikes, according to Buttacavoli.
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Police → assemble → Buttacavoli
He said officers had already identified several individuals and seized numerous bikes this year.
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officers → say → bikes
The NYPD also reminded residents that certain motorized vehicles must be registered, insured and operated by licensed drivers.
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vehicles → remind → drivers
State Assemblyman Mike Reilly, R-Staten Island, said he plans to introduce legislation in January that would hold parents financially responsible for minors caught recklessly operating certain motorized vehicles, according to the New York Post.
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parents → say → Post
The proposal would impose fines ranging from $250 to $1,500, the paper reported.
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paper → impose → 1,500
The incident remains under investigation, and no arrests have been announced.
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arrests → remain → investigation
The Aporia
