'Dooring' Charges Dropped Against Top Manhattan Democrat: Reports

HARLEM, NY — Prosecutors have dropped charges against Manhattan’s top Democrat, who was accused of leaving the scene after allegedly opening his door and hitting an oncoming cyclist.

On Wednesday, Manhattan D.A. prosecutors moved for the dismissal of charges against Keith Wright, the current leader of the New York County Democrats and a former New York State assemblymember for the 13th District. Wright was accused of opening the door of his BMW on Aug. 26 on Fifth Avenue and E. 138th Street, causing an approaching cyclist to fall from his bike and sustain “bruising to his ankle and substantial pain,” according to a criminal complaint obtained by the New York Post.

At a September arraignment, prosecutors charged that Wright, 66, interacted briefly with the cyclist before leaving the scene without providing his name, number, insurance information, or offering to bring the cyclist to the hospital. In New York, it is illegal to open a car door in the path of another user, a practice commonly known as “dooring.” However, the state classifies “dooring” as a traffic offense punishable by a ticket, not a criminal offense, according to Manhattan Assistant D.A. Myles Ashong.

Wright spokesperson Tom Butler said Wednesday that Wright stayed at the scene for 40 to 45 minutes, according to the New York Daily News. Butler also said that the cyclist was not wearing a helmet, and was riding an e-bike that lacked the legally required headlights, taillights, and sound device to warn pedestrians.

On Wednesday, Ashong said that prosecutors could not prove the charges against Wright because the law only applies to someone “operating a motor vehicle.” In a motion to dismiss, Ashong wrote that in this case, “operating a motor vehicle” means sitting behind the wheel with the intent of placing the vehicle in motion. Wright was apparently leaving his car to go to the store, though Ashong said accounts differ as to whether his motor was running as he opened the door.

Tony Ricco, Wright’s attorney, said in a statement that the DA dropped the case after a thorough investigation that included interviews with several on the scene witnesses and reviewing photographs and other evidence, according to the New York Post. Butler also noted that “every witness said he stayed at scene, and the car was parked and off,” according to the Daily News.

Wright allegedly told investigators that he feels it is the cyclist’s fault for running the door. Wright said he told him to go to the hospital, and asked for the cyclist’s information, but the cyclist did not give it to him.