Cop in Biker Gang Won’t Testify at Grand Jury

An undercover police detective arrested in a motorcyclist-SUV melee no longer plans to testify before a grand jury, his lawyer said Monday.

Attorney John Arlia initially indicated that Detective Wojciech Braszczok wanted to speak to the Manhattan grand jury that’s considering indicting him. But Arlia said Monday he’s advised Braszczok not to do so “because the evidence speaks for him.”

“My client has complete confidence and faith this grand jury will determine that he in no way intended to injure, nor act in any way to injure” an SUV driver who was beaten by several other motorcyclists, the attorney said. Video and other evidence will show Braszczok didn’t come close to contact with the driver, he said.

The Manhattan district attorney’s office has said Braszczok nonetheless actively participated in the attack by shattering the SUV’s back window and kicking its passenger side, and he has been charged with gang assault.

Many defendants ultimately choose not to testify before grand juries, for various reasons. It’s not uncommon for defendants to give notice that they want to appear and then change their minds.

Braszczok was off-duty when he participated in a Sept. 29 motorcycle rally that took a violent turn. He’s one of several riders who have since been arrested.

Arlia has said that the window Braszczok is accused of breaking already had a sizeable hole in it. The detective didn’t know other participants in the rally, which was organized online, and he pursued Lien only to prevent his flight after the SUV ran down and seriously injured motorcyclist Edwin Mieses Jr., Arlia said.

This article appeared in print on page 14 of the October 23rd, 2013 edition of Hamodia.