NEW YORK (1010 WINS) -- Manhattan prosecutors on Wednesday moved to dismiss charges against the current chair of the New York County Democratic Committee for "dooring" a cyclist in Harlem and fleeing the scene over the summer.
Judge Marisol Martinez Alonso dismissed and sealed the case against Keith Wright, 66, who was charged with speeding off after he allegedly opened the door of his parked BMW and hit a cyclist, on Aug. 26 in Central Harlem.
The bicyclist was riding on Fifth Avenue and East 138th Street when he sustained “bruising to his ankle and substantial pain,” when he fell from being struck by the vehicle, according to a criminal complaint.
Wright had a short exchange with the victim, but then allegedly left without providing his name, prosecutors said at his arraignment in September.
“I told him to go to the hospital. I did not exchange my information with him. I asked for his information but he did not give it to me,” Wright told NYPD Det. Lamount Deaderick, according to the complaint.
At a previous arraignment, Wright pleaded not guilty to two counts of leaving the scene and was released by a judge.
Wright’s attorney, Tony Ricco, previously said that there was no way for his client to know the cyclist was approaching because he was riding a “speeding motorized e-bike, one that was operating without a headlight, or taillight on” or a horn.
“I was about to open my car door while he was riding an electric bike. It is his fault for running into my door,” Wright told officials, the complaint added.
The attorney also added that Wright remained on the scene for 40 to 45 minutes after the incident, before leaving.
Assistant District Attorney Myles Ashong on Wednesday said that because the law only applies when someone is "operating a motor vehicle," prosecutors couldn’t prove the charge of leaving the scene of an incident.
Ashong noted that operating a vehicle meant sitting behind the wheel, for the purpose of placing it in motion and Wright was apparently leaving his car to go to a store at the time the door was opened.
He also added that while it is illegal in New York to open a car door into the path of a bicyclist, that is a traffic infraction punishable by a ticket, not a criminal offense.
A statement announced by the DA from wright's attorney said that "after having an opportunity to conduct a careful and thorough investigation which included the interview of several on the scene witnesses, and the review of photographs and other evidence, the case against Mr. Wright was dismissed."