Thread: Bicyclist hit and run ( probably illegal)

Crowd prevents hit and run suspect from fleeing in Long Branch
Posted by the Asbury Park Press on 07/23/07
BY MICHELLE SAHN

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LONG BRANCH — A city man who police say struck a bicyclist with his car, then left the scene, was arrested after witnesses followed him and surrounded his vehicle until officers arrived.

Erasto Alcantara-Diaz, 40, of Rockwell Avenue, Long Branch, was charged with driving while intoxicated, reckless driving, failure to maintain a lane, leaving the scene of an accident, failure to report an accident and operating a vehicle with a suspended driver's license.

Around 9:55 p.m. Saturday, Officers Hector D. Umana, George Samol and Matthew Widdis were sent to Rockwell Avenue, where they learned that a blue Buick had struck a bicyclist, said Detective Lt. Robert Sama.

Samol and members of the local rescue squad gave first aid to the victim, whose injuries were not life-threatening, police said.

People in the area told officers the driver of the Buick left the scene, but was followed by several witnesses to the back of a Rockwell Avenue home, said Sama.

When Umana arrived at the house, he saw a crowd surrounding a blue Buick and a man - later identified as Alcantara-Diaz - standing outside the vehicle, police said.

Several people from the crowd approached Umana and identified Alcantara-Diaz as the driver who swerved into oncoming lane of traffic, struck the victim, and then slowed down. The driver then turned the Buick's headlights off and continued driving down Rockwell Avenue at low rate of speed, police said.

The witnesses told police the crowd followed the Buick and when the driver stopped, they immediately surrounded him and the vehicle so he could not leave the area before officers arrived, said Sama.

No other information was immediately available about the bicyclist.

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My Two Cents Worth... you are very right about the driver having a bad day with a possible beating followed by an arrest. Isn't it usually the other way around? jk

Kudos to the Long Branchers that followed this guy. Good to know the right thing was done.

Posted by: 2ndThoughts on Mon Jul 23, 2007 5:18 pm

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Would anyone care to venture a guess as to whether this guy happens to be an illegal alien? Needless to say, if he manages to make it to court and doesn't jump ship, does anyone think he'll have the bucks to pay a fine after he does his jail time at taxpayer expense?

Posted by: Devilfish on Mon Jul 23, 2007 5:12 pm

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http://www.app.com/apps/pbcs.dll/articl ... S/70723037

I'm sorry.....RUN and whether or not you are.....you are either GUILTY or ILLEGAL......the rest of us know to STOP and COOPERATE.

( probably illegal)

jannidot,

First, welcome to ALIPAC.

TheFomorian is right. We realize the probability but we maintain the innocent until proven guilty premise here. We don’t' automatically assume that a Hispanic is "guilty" of illegal entry, until there is some evidence. I will give you this. Often, the main stream media does not publicize the immigration status of many illegal aliens.

Dixie

The only time we allow the posting of articles where the immigration status of the suspect is not know is if the following conditions are present.

1. There are markers or other facts in the case that suggest the suspect is an illegal aliens

and

2. The activist that posted the piece is actively trying to ascertain the legal status of the suspect using methods we have worked with in the past to do that.

So, for this article to remain, you must indicate what factors or makers in the case suggest illegal status and if you are actively researching this case to make a determination of the facts.

We have broken many stories like this from ALIPAC where our activists were the ones that determined the status as an illegal alien.

The press really tries to set on top of that info a lot of times.

W