Motorcycle club president charged in stabbing

New London – Police have arrested the president of a local motorcycle club in connection with a Sept. 22 stabbing at the group's Bank Street clubhouse that left a New London man with life-threatening injuries.

Police announced late Saturday night that they had taken Jose Roman, 34, of 241 Elm St., into custody earlier in the evening. Roman is the president of the WildStyle Riders Motorcycle Club. He was charged with first-degree assault and carrying a dangerous weapon. He is being held on a $400,000 bond and is expected to appear in New London Superior Court Monday.

Police did not say where Roman was taken into custody or how they apprehended him.

Police did say they are still looking for his brother, Juan Baptista-Roman,31, of 5 Lorenzo St., Waterford, on similar charges. They asked anyone who may have information about the location of Baptista-Roman, the club's vice-president, to contact them.

The early morning brawl at 130 Bank St., fight sent Anthony Swift, 26, of New London to Yale-New Haven Hospital with life-threatening injuries from the stabbing. Others injured in the fight were Henry Albino, 31, of New London, who suffered cuts to the ear and neck; Miguel Albino, 33, of New London, who may have broken his leg as he fled the fight; and Jairo Perez, 28, of Guilford, who sustained injuries to the face and head when he was hit with a large wooden object.

The injured men, in interviews with police, reported having been inside the motorcycle club hangout at 130 Bank St. when a large fight broke out and spilled into the building's parking lot on South Water Street.

City officials have shut down the clubhouse because it did not have the proper permit to operate a members-only club in the downtown business district.