Off-Duty Cop Convicted Of Road Rage Handcuff Beating, DA Says

BROOKLYN, NEW YORK -- An NYPD officer was convicted of pistol-whipping and beating a Brooklyn driver with handcuffs during a New Year's Day road rage attack, prosecutors said.

A jury found Michael Baror, 25, guilty in Brooklyn Criminal Court Tuesday of assault, criminal possession of a weapon, leaving the scene of an incident, reckless driving, improper use of a siren and improper display of plates, the Brooklyn District Attorney’s Office said.

Baror, formerly of Transit District 32, flashed his Jeep Cherokee's high beams then rear-ended the car in front of him near Avenue N and Bedford Avenue at about 10:30 p.m. on Jan. 1, 2018, prosecutors said.

The off-duty cop then jumped out of the Jeep, fitted with illegal lights and sirens, ran toward the car, pistol-whipped its 29-year-old driver, and smacked him in the face with handcuffs, said prosecutors.

Baror tried to speed away, but the 29-year-old made chase as his girlfriend called 911 and copied down the Jeep Cherokee's license plate, which Baror tried to conceal, according to the DA's office.

The high-speed chase ended when the two cars crashed and Baror was able to flee the scene, according to prosecutors.

The 29-year-old was treated for a cut on his mouth that needed stitches, bruises to the face and head, a cut on his nose and a hurt shoulder, the DA’s office said.

Baror went home to remove the illegal lights and sirens from his car as well as shave off the thick beard and hair the 29-year-old had seen him sporting during the attack, prosecutors said.

Police arrested Baror the next day, according to prosecutors, and he is slated to be sentenced on May 8.

“[Baror] endangered the life of not only the victim he assaulted but those drivers and pedestrians who shared the road with him that evening," stated Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez.

"The fact that he is a trained police officer makes his behavior even more disturbing.”