Friday, June 23, 2017 11:20PM
BELLPORT, Long Island (WABC) --
The driver of a minivan that crashed into a dirt bike in North Bellport, killing two, was arraigned on a reckless endangerment charge in court in Central Islip Friday morning.
The judge set bail for 27-year-old Christopher Bouchard, of Mastic Beach, at $200,000, which angered family members of the victims who wanted bail denied.
Bouchard reportedly saw two men on his brother's stolen dirt bike and followed them, ultimately striking the bike with his minivan. Prosecutors say Bouchard sped up and, when the motorcycle slowed down, crossed two lanes into oncoming traffic before slamming into them on Montauk Highway.
Anthony Garriques, 20, and 19-year-old Keenen King died as a result of the crash. Police say after the collision, bouchard put the dirt bike into his minivan and tried to drive away.
He is charged with reckless endangerment. His brother, 31-year-old Brian Bouchard, was also in the minivan at the time. He was not charged, although the case is expected to be put before a grand jury. That could lead to upgraded charges.
Relatives of the two dead men expressed their outrage after the brief hearing.
"I've got to bury my son, for a dirt bike?" mom Lina Garriques said. "I'll eat dirt before I let my son's memory go down when he got tragically murdered."
King was set to graduate from William Floyd High School in Mastic Beach this weekend. A candlelight vigil was held Thursday night.
"They murders," Lina Garriques said. "They took the law into their own hands. This boy ain't never been convicted of anything."
Christopher Bouchard's attorney said it's unlikely his client will be able to post bail.
"He was charged with reckless endangerment, which is not an intentional crime," attorney John Halverson said. "And I can tell you after speaking with my client, there was certainly no intent to hurt anybody."
Authorities say it is still under investigation whether the two men actually stole the bike.
Anyone with information is asked to call Suffolk County Crime Stoppers at 1-800-220-TIPS.
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Driver arrested in chase that killed 2 involving allegedly stolen dirt bike in Bellport
By CeFaan Kim
Friday, June 23, 2017 05:14AM
BELLPORT, Long Island (WABC) -- The driver of a minivan is under arrest after police say he was involved in a crash that killed two young men on a dirt bike. The driver apparently reported a dirt bike stolen earlier in the day on Long Island.
Heartbroken loved ones are trying to make sense of what happened.
This was supposed to be where they celebrated 19-year-old Keenen King's graduation from William Floyd High School in Mastic Beach this weekend.
Instead, they held a solemn candlelight vigil Thursday night.
19-year-old Keenen King (left) and 20-year-old Anthony Garriques (right)
"It's all shocking. Like it's not real kind of, you know what I'm saying. Like I don't know," said Trinity Clendenning, the victim's girlfriend.
Clendenning was King's girlfriend.
She is still numb from the suffocating pain.
The high school senior was killed along with his friend while riding a dirt bike in a crash, witnesses describe as a head on collision with a minivan.
"It's sick. It's sick. You know whatever the case is over a dirt bike, he destroyed families," said Bonnie Smith, the victim's girlfriend's mother.
Police are investigating whether the driver of the minivan, 27-year-old Christopher Bouchard (pictured below), intentionally crashed into two young men on a dirt bike. His brother, Brian Bouchard, 31, was a passenger in the minivan and the owner of the dirt bike.
Christopher Bouchard (SCPD)
Riding with King along Monatauk Highway in Bellport was 20-year-old Anthony Garriques.
His family members say he was riding on the back and succumbed to his injuries late Thursday.
At this point in the investigation, cops believe it all started in Mastic Beach.
Police say around 7 a.m. Thursday, Bouchard reported his brother Brian's dirt bike was stolen from his home on Whittier Drive.
Eyewitness News tried to get his side, but someone from the home declined to comment and asked us not to show the house claiming they've been getting threats all day.
Investigators say about three hours after calling cops, Christopher came upon the two young men, and gave chase, then collided with them.
"We believe that dirt bike was the one reported stolen earlier in the day. So far evidence indicates the individual claiming to be the owner of the dirt bike," said Commissioner Timothy Sini, Suffolk County Police Department.
Witnesses say after Christopher crashed into the two men, he put the dirt bike back into his minivan and attempted to drive away before police arrived.
Cops say it is still under investigation whether the two men actually stole the bike.
Family members say either way, what happened isn't right.
"You can't accuse kids of stealing of something if you didn't see them. You don't have them on camera, don't go messing with them. It's ridiculous around Bellport, my nephew is a good kid. He graduated and everything," said Danielle Booker, Garriques aunt.
"I really doubt that very much because he was always coming around my house with one, you know the same one that he was riding, so that's when they say that it was stolen I doubt that very much," Smith said.
Christopher Bouchard who was not injured, was arrested and charged with Reckless Endangerment 1st Degree. Brian Bouchard has not been charged and was not injured.
Christopher Bouchard will appear in court on Friday.
Anyone with information is asked to call Suffolk County Crime Stoppers at 1-800-220-TIPS.