'Bike rage' suspect arrested
The bicyclist who felt "extremely insulted" when a fellow biker told him to get a light on his bike and ended up beating the commenter was arrested and tentatively charged with battery and disorderly conduct Wednesday, police said.
Dustin Dunlavy, 28, Madison, allegedly grabbed Colin O'Brien, 51, around the head in the confrontation on South Shore Drive the night of Nov. 26.
O'Brien is the owner of Cronometro, a Williamson Street shop making custom bicycles.
Madison police spokesman Joel DeSpain said many citizens helped in identifying the "bike rage" suspect.
Dunlavy was biking with a woman who DeSpain said was Dunlavy's girlfriend.
"She was interviewed but wasn't charged," DeSpain said.
According to police:
The incident started about 6:30 p.m. on Nov. 26 as O'Brien was biking home on South Shore Drive, on the south side of Monona Bay.
Two bicyclists came up behind O'Brien, with one saying they were going to pass him on the left. As they passed, O'Brien said, "Get a light."
Dunlavy apparently asked him to repeat himself so he did, with the couple then telling O'Brien to mind his own business. Dunlavy apparently then tried to run O'Brien off the road.
The pair followed O'Brien to his home, where the light talk continued.
The female said it appeared O'Brien had plenty of lights and asked for one, so he gave one to her, but Dunlavy still was upset and clamped his hands around O'Brien's head, according to a police report.
The report added that he twisted O'Brien to the ground and kicked him in the ribs, but Dunlavy denied doing so when he was arrested.
"He also said he didn't think it (grabbing his head) would cause pain because the victim was wearing a bike helmet," DeSpain said.
When asked why he didn't just ride away after the "get a light" comment, Dunlavy apparently told police he felt extremely insulted by the statement.
"He didn't think anyone had a right to tell him he should have a light on his bike," DeSpain said.
