Violent Biker Clash on Long Island Leads to Serious Felony Charges
A brutal confrontation between rival motorcycle gangs on suburban Long Island has escalated into a major criminal case, with five members of the Pagan’s Motorcycle Club and the Demons of Hell (a Hell’s Angels subset) now facing serious felony charges. The September brawl in West Islip and Lindenhurst turned from a tense confrontation into a bloody street battle that left multiple gang members hospitalized with life-threatening injuries. Suffolk County District Attorney Ray Tierney described it as “a brazen and dangerous outbreak of violence that put our community at risk,” noting how quickly the situation spiraled out of control in public areas, including a busy highway.
The violence has been traced back to a memorial service at 1683 Sports Bar & Grille in West Islip, where members of the Demons of Hell allegedly crashed an event honoring a deceased Pagan’s member. What began as a heated exchange quickly descended into violence that spilled onto the streets. The confrontation reignited at a Phillips 66 gas station in Lindenhurst, approximately five miles away, where at least 15 bikers gathered for what prosecutors described as a “full-blown melee” involving weapons including knives, hammers, and baseball bats. The public nature of this gang violence has particularly alarmed local authorities, as it occurred in populated areas where innocent bystanders could have been harmed.
The brutality of the attacks is evident in the charges against the accused. Christopher Clarke, 21, and his father Roger Clarke, 53, both alleged members of the Demons of Hell, are accused of stabbing a Pagan’s member and beating him with a hammer, causing injuries so severe that emergency surgery was required. Roger Clarke allegedly stabbed another Pagan’s member as he attempted to escape, piercing his liver and colon. The victim also needed emergency surgery to save his life. This coordinated attack demonstrates the calculated nature of the violence that erupted between these rival groups, prosecutors contend.
On the opposing side, Joseph Bivona, 46, Michael Baffa, 57, and Robert Miller, 54—all allegedly affiliated with the Pagan’s Motorcycle Club—are accused of brutally beating a 76-year-old Hell’s Angels associate with baseball bats and other weapons. The elderly victim suffered a brain hemorrhage and required multiple emergency surgeries to survive. The age of this victim has particularly shocked the community and highlighted the extreme nature of the violence that motorcycle gang rivalries can generate. What initially appeared to authorities as a typical biker disturbance revealed itself to be something far more sinister after deeper investigation.
The case has evolved significantly since the initial incident. When police first responded to the scene in September, they classified the incident as a civil disturbance, and only seven individuals were charged with rioting. However, after a thorough five-month investigation, authorities now believe they have pieced together the complete picture of what transpired that day. This methodical approach to gathering evidence has allowed prosecutors to bring much more serious charges against the key participants, upgrading the case from simple rioting to gang assault and other violent felonies that reflect the gravity of what occurred.
All five defendants were arraigned on Tuesday and are being held on substantial bail amounts ranging from $250,000 to $750,000, indicating the seriousness with which the court is treating these charges. Suffolk County District Attorney Tierney has made it clear that his office will continue aggressive enforcement against gang activity, stating firmly that “violence of this nature will not be tolerated.” The case represents a significant crackdown on outlaw motorcycle gang violence in suburban communities, where such extreme public displays of violence are relatively rare but particularly concerning when they do occur. The prosecution of these individuals serves as both a response to this specific incident and a warning to other gang members that violent conflicts will result in serious legal consequences.
The Long Island biker gang case highlights the ongoing issues with motorcycle gang rivalries across the country, which sometimes remain hidden from public view until they erupt in spectacular and violent ways. For residents of West Islip and Lindenhurst, the incident has shattered the relative peace of their suburban communities and raised questions about the presence and activities of these gangs in their neighborhoods. As the legal proceedings continue, the community awaits justice for what prosecutors describe as a reckless and potentially deadly outbreak of gang violence that transformed ordinary public spaces into dangerous battlegrounds.
