Cyclists tell ABC-7 off-duty officer put them in danger

A group of bicyclists tell ABC-7 an off-duty police officer put them in danger. It happened Friday night when the cyclists were on a group ride. ABC-7 has learned the police officer involved has been in the headlines before.

This all started with a group bike ride called Critical Mass. The bicyclists all ride together at night in Downtown. Members from the group said the incident started when they were crossing an intersection. They said several of the bikers got through, but then the light turned red. They said one bicyclist then pulled over into the next lane and attempted to stop traffic, so the rest of the bicyclists could go through.

That’s when they said a man in a motorcycle then sped through the group, identified himself as a police officer, and attempted to detain the bicyclist, saying it was unlawful for him to do that. Members of the group say the off-duty cop came within inches of the rider, almost ramming him.

Bicyclists are saying the incident was handled inappropriately, putting several of them in danger. All this information is coming from the bicyclists. Police have not given us official confirmation of the details of the incident. Police did say three bicyclists were detained but none were jailed.

Police have also confirmed that the officer involved in this incident is Jorge Gonzalez. Gonzalez made headlines in 2010 when he was involved in a shooting on the Eastside. That shooting left a 20-year-old man paralyzed.

Gonzalez was charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. Police officials could not tell ABC-7 what came of those charges. But Gonzalez is currently assigned to administrative duties. Friday night’s incident is now being investigated by the internal affairs department.