Motorist strikes cyclist, then returns to hit him again, and is released on $500 bond
At least the Milford police acted responsibly and tracked this guy down – something our police force didn’t do in a similar incident that occurred here in Tucson. Story here.
Milford bicyclist heard words ‘kill him, run him over’ before being hit by car, cops say
By Brian McCready, Milford Bureau Chief
bmccready@nhregister.com / Twitter: @nhrbmccreadyMILFORD — The 42-year-old bicyclist told police he heard the words “kill him, run him over.”
Then the car allegedly hit the bike the man was on, police said.
The man was thrown from the bike but was not seriously injured, police said.
But then the motorist turned the car around and this time allegedly ran the bike over, police said.
When police responded to the incident in the area of Edgefield Avenue at the intersection of Yale Avenue around 5:30 p.m., the bicyclist was able to recall the license plate number on the car and that led investigators to arrest a 20-year-old Bird Lane resident, police spokesman Sgt. Vaughan Dumas said.
Louis A. Melfi III, is charged with evading responsibility, and reckless driving, police said. Melfi told police there was a problem with a bicyclist but denied striking the bike, police said.
But the bicyclist, who was not identified, told police he was on a leisurely ride Wednesday evening when he heard a female voice shouting from a car “kill him, run him over,” Dumas said.
The bicyclist was driving in the shoulder of the road eastbound on Edgefield Avenue and told police he also heard a male voice yelling, “I’m gonna run you off the road,” police said.
The vehicle hit the bike’s rear tire and the man was knocked off the bike, he told police. He also told police the car continued a short distance, and then stopped, backed up and ran the bike over a second time before being driven off, police said.
In addition to the license plate number, the bicyclist provided a description of the vehicle. The vehicle was located at Melfi’s residence. Investigators determined based on physical evidence from the car that it did strike the bicycle and Melfi was arrested. He was released after posting $500 bail and is due to appear in Superior Court in Milford Aug. 11.
–EBR
July 27th, 2011 at 8:28 am
About four months ago, as I was riding south on Mountain Avenue just south of Grant, a passing driver hooked into the bike lane ahead of me and forced me to stop. He screamed at me and threatened me repeatedly, then sped away. I copied his license number and called the Tucson Police. They wouldn’t even take my phone number. As far as I can tell, bicyclists are non-persons to Tucson law enforcement.
July 27th, 2011 at 8:48 am
I’m looking forward to a follow up post about this case. I want to see how this plays out.
July 27th, 2011 at 12:26 pm
$500 bond? Wow. At worst this is a felony aggravated assualt! It could even be attempted murder or vehicular manslaughter! You can have a higher bond set for shoplifting! This man is a menace to society and should not have been released so easily.
July 27th, 2011 at 12:37 pm
Why is this guy not in jail on attempted murder, and the other person in the car jailed as an accomplice?
July 28th, 2011 at 2:04 pm
@Paul Woodford –
TPD used to have a road rage hotline, 235-7243. A TPD insider informed Red Star today that the number is no longer staffed because of the city’s financial problems. Those responders have been re-allocated to traffic and patrol. The subtext is that calling 911 is the only remaining option, it’s what you get.
July 29th, 2011 at 5:56 pm
I wonder if this driver knew this cyclist and had it out for him? That would make me feel better than to think the driver is that nuts and is allowed to operate a car.
@Paul – my experience is all the police in Tucson want to do is give speeding tickets.
August 1st, 2011 at 10:40 am
There has to be something more to this. I am a huge bike rider and have been hollered at and usually all I can hear is “aaaaah”. For this rider to hear two sentences, the car was going pretty slow.
My guess is the guy was cheating with his girlfriend and this was payback.
August 1st, 2011 at 10:42 am
I am looking forward to the arraignment Sept 10th at 10AM
August 1st, 2011 at 10:43 am
Sorry.
I am looking forward to the arraigment on Sept. 15th at 10AM.
August 2nd, 2011 at 11:41 am
oh…
“Police believe road rage led to homicide in midtown Tucson”
at:
http://azstarnet.com/news/local/crime/article_37c091e4-bc9d-11e0-94fd-001cc4c002e0.html
???
August 10th, 2011 at 4:10 pm
There is definately more to the story. The bike rider was drunk, just released from prison, (his third time) and was cycling erratically. The 20 year old was afraid and trying to get away from this violent, screaming, cyclist, who was only riding because he doesn’t have a license. The cylcist is the menace not the kid!
August 11th, 2011 at 1:13 pm
Travelbug do you have any evidence to support your statements?
August 14th, 2011 at 10:44 am
Erik — apparently not!! (“any evidence…?)
speaking of commenters, check out some of the comments on this pending (over 2 years now!) hit-and-run/manslaughter/endangerment trial in Maricopa County:
http://azbikelaw.org/blog/foshee-trial-delayed-again/
August 14th, 2011 at 10:54 am
@Paul “… called the Tucson Police. They wouldn’t even take my phone number”
I’ve got some harsh news for you, my friend, it is YOUR responsibility to make an issue of such an incident.
1) call 911 immediately when an/any such incident occurs. if i’m not mistaken all 911 calls are recorded. you need and should want this to be on the record. 2) request an officer respond… if they won’t you must go in person to the PD asap and make a report. 3) contact someone like the pima county(?) BAC they seem very active. or contact the Coalition of Arizona Bicyclists.
November 4th, 2011 at 11:07 pm
Travelbug hit the nail on the head. Erik, you want to know what proof they have that the cyclist is the crazy one?
Just think about it, the proof is in the absence of injuries and more severe charges. If someone gets “thrown” from their bike and then the car backs up and runs them over a second time, don’t you think they would have a scratch or mark on them? The police officer who responded stated there were no injuries and did not insist on a medical eval. The cyclist should have planned better and at least faked an injury to be seen in the ER. Most victims want their injuries documented.
The self controlled driving of this 20 yr old is pretty impressive. He was able to “bump the rear tire” on a cyclist trying to get away, and tap it so that the bike wasn’t harmed? And then turn around and do it again. And all the while, make sure not to injure a hair on the cyclist’s body?
If the kid wanted to run over the biker, he would have. Do you really think the kid knew the guy and was angry and decided to get even by “tapping the wheel”? Come on now. If he wanted to hurt him, he would have killed him; it would have been easier to hide that apparently, since there are absolutely no witnesses that heard this horrible event happening in the street. ? That’s some powerful control of a vehicle, impressive driving.
Doesn’t that kind of make you think? Betcha that cyclist is lying.
February 4th, 2012 at 6:36 pm
I've been clcniyg for 20 years, with enough miles to circumnavigate the Earth: I've never broken a spoke.From my experience, broken spokes are due to poorly built wheels. And after one breaks more are likely to follow unless the wheel is rebuilt.