Prosecutors upgraded the charges at his arraignment Wednesday
Prosecutors have upgraded charges to include gang assault for an undercover NYPD officer who was allegedly involved in a violent fight between a group of motorcyclists and a man driving a Range Rover in Manhattan.
Detective Wojciech Braszczok, 32, turned himself in to police Tuesday evening and was initially charged with riot and criminal mischief, according to police. The upgraded felony charge was added Wednesday.
He's not believed to have physically assaulted the driver, who was pulled from the SUV and beaten after being chased by the bikers; he is charged with assault because he was allegedly part of the larger group that carried out the attack.
At court for his arraignment Wednesday, his lawyer John Arlia said the video shows he wasn't part of the assault and that the charges are not deserved.
Braszczok has spent 10 years with the NYPD, the last five as an undercover, including during the Occupy Wall Street movement, according to a law enforcement official.
