LINDENHURST, N.Y. — Five men with ties to rival motorcycle clubs are facing serious charges following a violent brawl outside a gas station that left several individuals critically injured. The incident, which took place on September 14, 2025, involved weapons such as knives, hammers, and baseball bats, according to authorities.
Suffolk County District Attorney Ray Tierney announced that a grand jury has indicted the men, who are affiliated with the Pagan’s Motorcycle Club and the Demons of Hell Motorcycle Club, among others. Those charged include Roger Clarke, 53, and Christopher Clarke, 21, both from New Hampshire, as well as Joseph Bivona, 46, of Centereach, Michael Baffa, 57, of Farmingville, and Robert Miller, 54, of West Babylon.
The violence erupted around 3:28 p.m. when members of the rival clubs converged in Lindenhurst after an earlier confrontation at a memorial service for a member of the Pagan’s Club. This earlier clash took place at a bar on Sunrise Highway in West Islip, where members of the Demons of Hell and a lone Hells Angels member allegedly disrupted the ceremony. Tensions escalated, leading to what witnesses described as a chaotic melee at the Phillips 66 gas station.
Prosecutors detailed that both Roger and Christopher Clarke are accused of stabbing and bludgeoning a Pagan’s member with a hammer, resulting in severe injuries that required emergency surgery. In a separate attack during the same confrontation, Roger Clarke reportedly stabbed another Pagan’s member who was attempting to flee, causing life-threatening injuries to the victim’s liver and colon.
In addition to the attacks on Pagan’s members, Bivona, Baffa, and Miller are charged with assaulting a 76-year-old Hells Angels member, whom they allegedly attacked with blunt objects. This assault resulted in a brain bleed, requiring multiple surgeries and extended medical care for the victim.
Following their arraignments on January 20, 2026, before Suffolk County Supreme Court Justice John Collins, the defendants all faced serious charges, including first- and second-degree gang assault. Bail amounts varied, with Roger Clarke set at $75,000 cash or a $750,000 bond, while Christopher Clarke’s bail was set at $25,000 cash or a $250,000 bond. If convicted on the top charges, each could face up to 25 years in prison.
The suspects have retained legal representation, and their attorneys indicated they intend to plead not guilty. The court proceedings will continue, with further hearings scheduled in the coming weeks for all involved.
District Attorney Tierney condemned the incident, highlighting the danger posed to the community by such violence. He remarked that it was “a brazen and dangerous outbreak of violence” that escalated into an uncontrolled situation in the middle of a busy highway. The DA emphasized that acts of violence will not be tolerated in the area and promised to seek justice for the victims affected by the confrontation.