Five men alleged to be members of rival motorcycle clubs have been indicted on gang assault and related felony charges following a violent midday confrontation in Lindenhurst that left multiple people seriously injured, Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond A. Tierney announced.
Those indicted are Roger Clarke, 53, and Christopher Clarke, 21, both of New Hampshire; Joseph Bivona, 46, of Centereach; Michael Baffa, 57, of Farmingville; and Robert Miller, 54, of West Babylon.
According to investigators, the violence erupted on September 14, 2025, shortly after 3:30 p.m., following a confrontation between rival motorcycle clubs earlier in the day. Authorities say members of one group allegedly interrupted a memorial service being held for a deceased member of a rival club at a Lindenhurst bar.
The dispute later escalated at a nearby gas station off Sunrise Highway, where at least 15 individuals allegedly engaged in a chaotic, armed melee. Prosecutors say knives, hammers, baseball bats, and other weapons were used during the fight.
Two victims suffered severe stab wounds requiring emergency surgery, including one individual who sustained injuries to internal organs while attempting to flee the scene. Another victim, a 76-year-old man, was allegedly beaten with weapons, suffering a brain bleed that required multiple emergency surgeries and ongoing medical treatment.
“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 the day involving weapons and resulting in serious injuries.”
All five defendants have been arraigned and ordered held on bail or bond as their cases proceed in Suffolk County Court. If convicted of the top charges, each faces the possibility of decades in state prison.
The case is being prosecuted by the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Violent Criminal Enterprises Bureau following an investigation by the Suffolk County Police Department.
A criminal charge is an accusation. Defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
