Violent Motorcycle Gang Assault: 5 Bikers Used Weapons In Daytime Melee In Suffolk, DA Says

LINDENHURST, NY — Five men tied to rival motorcycle clubs were indicted on top felony gang assault and assault charges stemming from a violent daytime brawl outside a Lindenhurst gas station that prosecutors say involved knives, hammers, and baseball bats —and left multiple victims with severe, life-threatening injuries.

Suffolk County District Attorney Ray Tierney said a Suffolk County grand jury indicted Roger Clarke, 53, of New Hampshire; Christopher Clarke, 21, of New Hampshire; Joseph Bivona, 46, of Centereach; Michael Baffa, 57, of Farmingville; and Robert Miller, 54, of West Babylon in connection with the September 2025 incident.

According to prosecutors, the violence occurred on Sept. 14, 2025, around 3:28 p.m., when members of the Pagan’s Motorcycle Club, the Demons of Hell Motorcycle Club, and the Hells Angels converged in Lindenhurst. The confrontation culminated outside the Route 66 gas station off Sunrise Highway, where investigators say a large-scale fight erupted in broad daylight.

Prosecutors said the conflict began earlier that afternoon when members of the Demons of Hell Motorcycle Club and one member of the Hells Angels disrupted a memorial service being held for a Pagan’s member at a at 1683 Sports Bar & Grille on Sunrise Highway in West Islip. After that encounter, at least 15 individuals regrouped at Phillips 66 Gas Station the East Sunrise Highway in Lindenhurst, where the situation rapidly escalated into a violent melee, the DA said.

During the confrontation, Roger Clarke and Christopher Clarke, identified as members of the Demons of Hell, stabbed and beat a rival Pagan’s member with a hammer, the DA said.

That victim sustained a stab wound so severe that he required emergency surgery, Tierney said.

Roger Clarke then stabbed a second Pagan’s member as that individual attempted to flee the scene, causing lacerations to the victim’s liver and colon that also required emergency surgical intervention, prosecutors said.

Bivona, Baffa, and Miller, identified as members of the Pagan’s Motorcycle Club, are accused of acting together to attack a 76-year-old man identified as a member of the Hells Angels, the DA said.

The victim was beaten with weapons, including baseball bats, and suffered a brain bleed that necessitated multiple emergency surgeries and ongoing medical treatment, prosecutors said.

Roger Clarke was arraigned Jan. 20 before Suffolk County Supreme Court Justice John Collins on charges that include first and second-degree gang assault and first and second-degree assault, prosecutors said. Justice Collins ordered Clarke held on $75,000 cash bail, a $750,000 bond, or a $750,000 partially secured bond. Clarke is scheduled to return to court Feb. 3 and faces up to 25 years in prison if convicted on the top charge. He is represented by attorney John Halverson.

"At this time we've entered the plea of not guilty, we stand behind that plea, and I have to review the evidence or lack thereof in this case and move forward," Halverson said.

Christopher Clarke was also arraigned Jan. 20 before Justice Collins on charges including first and second degree gang assault and first and second degree assault, according to prosecutors. The court set bail at $25,000 cash, a $250,000 bond, or a $250,000 partially secured bond. He is due back in court Feb. 3 and also faces up to 25 years in prison if convicted on the top count. He is represented by attorney Danielle Coysh.

Bivona was arraigned Jan. 20 on charges that include first and second-degree gang assault, first-degree assault, and multiple counts of second-degree assault, prosecutors said. Justice Collins ordered him held on $75,000 cash bail, a $750,000 bond, or a $750,000 partially secured bond. Bivona is scheduled to appear in court again on Jan. 29 and faces up to 25 years in prison if convicted. He is represented by attorney Michael Castro.

Baffa was arraigned the same day on similar felony charges, including first-degree gang assault and first-degree assault, according to the district attorney’s office. Justice Collins set bail at $75,000 cash, a $750,000 bond, or a $750,000 partially secured bond. Baffa is due back in court Feb. 27 and faces up to 25 years in prison if convicted. He is represented by attorney Michael Perninsiglio.

Miller was arraigned Jan. 21 on charges that include first and second degree gang assault and multiple assault counts, prosecutors said. Justice Collins ordered Miller held on $75,000 cash bail, a $750,000 bond, or a $750,000 partially secured bond. He is scheduled to return to court Feb. 3 and faces up to 25 years in prison if convicted. He is represented by attorney Tara Laterza.

The defendants' attorneys did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

“This was a brazen and dangerous outbreak of violence that put our community at risk,” Tierney said. “What began as a confrontation between rival motorcycle gangs quickly escalated into a chaotic melee in the middle of Sunrise Highway involving weapons and resulted in numerous serious injuries. Violence of this nature will not be tolerated.”