Bikers Taken Into Custody After Incident That Closed Carson Street
PITTSBURGH (KDKA) -- East Carson Street was shut down Sunday night after a young man reported being robbed and assaulted, allegedly over the shirt he was wearing, by a large group of men outside of a South Side bar.
Police responded to the area of Carson Street near South 14th Street after 7 p.m.
Several people spent more than an hour handcuffed as officers checked drivers' licenses and registrations.
"The victim ran and called police. The motorcyclists left the bar and our officers spotted them, pulled them over right here. The rest played out right in front of you," Pittsburgh Police Spokesperson Sonya Toler said.
KDKA's Lisa Washington Reports:
Police say the victim had just stepped out of Jack's Bar when a group of 10 to 20 bikers confronted him.
According to the criminal complaint, the men – allegedly affiliated with the War Dogs Motorcycle Club and wearing colors associated with that group – were upset the victim was wearing a shirt with the number "16" on it. The victim told police he was "unaware of its association with the Pagan Motorcycle Club."
Police say the men began ripping the victim's shirt off and then grabbed his Glock 43 pistol from his waistband holster.
"I've heard of that happening before, bikers can be really territorial about those kinds of things," Alexa Beech of Mr. Washington said
Officers eventually stopped the men in the 1400 block East Carson Street. Eight men were detained. Four of them were later released, and the other four were identified as being involved in the robbery.
Police say they confiscated several firearms and knives.
Those men have been identified as 46-year-old Gino Furgiuele of Slippery Rock, 38-year-old Bradley Lewis of Monaca, 42-year-old James E. Mixter of Baden and 47-year-old Richard Schriner of Beaver Falls.
All four are charged with robbery, criminal conspiracy and simple assault. Lewis is also charged with receiving stolen property and classes of licenses for not having a valid motorcycle license.
They were taken to the Allegheny County Jail.
The motorcycles were removed from the streets and towed away to be searched.
The street was completely reopened around 11:30 p.m.
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