So this loon in a yellow Dodge was yelling at cyclists to get out of the way on E3rd st because both sides were double parked and there was only a narrow gap. He got right up to the back of me and nudged me with his fender, to which I yelled "wtf, are you nuts" or something along those lines. Much yelling of "eff you I'm gonna eff you up" from yellow Dodge. At the next intersection he stops at the lights, and as I pass to get in front of the traffic, I glance into his car and see a baseball bat coming towards me - he's shoving it out of the window to knock me off my bike. So instinctively I swatted it away, and there's a crashing sound. His side mirror, taken out by his own bat. I hear "I'm gonna KILL YOOOOOOOU" over the sound of spinning of tires, so I blasted off and took a right turn up Mercer St the wrong way figuring he wouldn't chase me against the traffic. Wrong!
 
I hear the sound of screeching tires as he comes around the corner and accelerates full speed up Mercer toward me. I had one last look over my shoulder just in time to see that I was about to get creamed, full on, by this yellow Dodge. Next thing I know I'm flying through the air desperately trying to edge myself to the right so that I wouldn't go under the wheels. And then I'm skidding and rolling over the asphalt getting some serious road rash on my arms and legs. The bike (a CitiBike share, phew!) wedged under his fender. Many witnesses. And he still jumps out of the car yelling and screaming that I broke his mirror. By this time it was hardly worth pointing out that he broke his own mirror.
 
NYPD arrives, and in their customary kak-handed way, arrested both parties. I got desk ticket for criminal damage since the guy made a complaint that I smashed his mirror, and he was locked up on more serious charges. Not, however, attempted murder, which it was. Then I spent 3 painful hours in the precinct, handcuffed to a bench, as the slowest cop in the world filled out reports which he typed with one finger, stopping to show everyone who past the room photos of his grandkids that someone had just texted him. 
 
Reckon I should contest the ticket? 

Pics or it dinnit happen.

 
Das all I got!

I'd contest it, but since it's his word against yours (i.e. no witnesses from the first event) and the second is probably not conclusive, I doubt much will happen in your favor. But it is your right to contest it.

Oh yeah, next time bring your own bat to level the playing field.
 

I would have thought the onus was on him to prove that I smashed his mirror. Like you say, no witnesses for that one. But multiple witnesses for his attempted murder. 

bapu
Oh yeah, next time bring your own bat to level the playing field.
 

You're not allowed to defend your life with a weapon in NYC, it's a big no-no...
 
And as I pointed out to the cop, if he had tried to run a member of the NYPD down then he would have gotten a face full of bullets. If he'd survived that, he'd have been hit with attempted murder of an officer. But since I'm just an ordinary peon and not a member of the ruling elite, it's "don't defend yourself" and "the most he's getting charged with is vehicular assault." 

I dont know about US law, but if you were detained in a cell for that in the UK you would likely be every police misconduct solicitors wet dream.
 
If you were just taken in for questioning / info gathering, probably not much you can do.

Bhav
I dont know about US law, but if you were detained in a cell for that in the UK you would likely be every police misconduct solicitors wet dream.
 
If you were just taken in for questioning / info gathering, probably not much you can do.

Wasn't detained in a cell though, merely handcuffed to a bench 

Well maybe you can try contest the ticket, but it would be one of those 'your word against his' type things so it would be tricky to accomplish.