Alleged Hit-And-Run Dirt Bike Operator Arrested After Posting TikTok Video Blaming Parents Of Boy Injured In Accident
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) --An arrest has been made after a three-day manhunt for the suspect accused of running over a 4-year-old boy in a Queens park with a dirt bike then taking off.
Twenty-nine-year-old Argenis Rivas, of Queens, was caught after someone gave a tip to Crime Stoppers about a TikTok video where the alleged dirt bike operator blames the child's parents for the accident.
Police say the video shows Rivas speaking in Spanish and shifting the blame of what happened on the little boy's parents, saying, "It was the parents' fault. They weren't paying attention to their kid."
The parents of the little boy, 4-year-old Jonathan Beauchamp, spoke with CBS2's Cory James off-camera.
"It's wrong man," Jonathan's father said.
"For him to say, oh, it's our fault? That's crazy," Jonathan's mother said.
Both of them say they were having a family outing at Flushing Meadow Park on Sunday and looking after all of their children.
"We just wanted to chill and relax and play music," Jonathan's father said.
They say their gathering took a turn for the worst when their vibrant little boy was run over.
"I took him out of somebody's hand, and I rushed him to the hospital myself. The ambulance didn't take him, I did. I took him to the hospital. I got there in less than 10 minutes," Jonathan's father said. "I didn't care about no lights. I didn't care about nothing. I just did it. But I had no choice, man. My son's life was in jeopardy right there, man."
While Jonathan has been recovering at the hospital, police have been cracking down on illegal street riders.
Jonathan's mother thinks more of that needs to happen, including efforts to capture people who commit similar crimes.
"I feel like they need to put more cameras on parks, just in case any accidents like this happen with children," she said.
For now, they are just happy their young little boy, who had a breathing tube down his threat and a bruise liver and lungs, is finally opening his eyes and showing signs of improvement.
"Thank God he is getting better," Jonathan's mother said.
The person who submitted that Crime Stoppers tip is eligible for a $10,000 reward.
Meanwhile, Rivas is facing several charges, including assault and reckless endangerment.
While police are making more arrests for illegal motor bike riders, city leaders are also trying to increase fines and penalties for violators.
