5 off-duty officers among bikers in SUV incident

[lostinblue 1,989]

5 off-duty officers among bikers in SUV incident

Friday, October 04, 2013

NEW YORK (WABC) -- Eyewitness News has learned that among the bikers on the Henry Hudson last weekend, were five off-duty NYPD officers.

Sources say at least two detectives witnessed the attack on Alexian Lien and did not directly intervene. And investigators are still working to determine what role, if any, was played by the other three officers.

What is clear, sources say, is that the men did not begin to come forward until late Wednesday, four full-days after the incident.

And detectives are also investigating reports that several others in the group may have been off-duty New York City correction officers.

An undercover detective has informed Internal Affairs that he was present at the time of the confrontation.

The undercover narcotics detective, himself a motorcycle rider, was off duty. Official sources say he did not get involved because he did not want to blow his cover. Internal Affairs is now investigating. The undercover detective is being advised by an attorney.

Also Friday night, 38-year-old Reginald Chance of Brooklyn turned himself in to police and is in custody. Detectives believe he used his silver helmet to smash the driver's side window of the victim's SUV. However, his role in the actual assault of the driver is unclear.

Earlier Friday, the biker who allegedly opened the SUV's door at one point during the chase, is now in custody.

35-year-old Robert Sims, grabbed the SUV's door at 5:05 seconds into the YouTube video, surrendered to police in Brooklyn earlier Friday.

Detectives are also looking at about a half dozen other bikers who may have had a role in the assault of the driver. Some have already been interviewed by investigators after being identified by video and photographs that have been coming in. Investigators are interviewing as many motorcyclists as possible to determine their roles before filing charges.

"This is a complex investigation with a lot of people involved," a source said.

Dayana Mejia cried during a press conference in New York City. Mejia says her partner and a biker left paralyzed in the confrontation, 32-year-old Edwin Mieses Jr., is an adoring father to the couple's two children.

"I love him so much it tears me up that anyone could think that Edwin in any way deserves what happened to him," she said.

Mejia says the people who participated in the motorcycle ride are "not thugs."

Gloria Allred, Mieses' attorney, says he was trying to "calm people down" when the SUV hit him on Sunday.

Video shows the SUV surrounded by dozens of helmeted riders. The driver, Alexian Lien, drove through the crowd and struck Mieses.

Investigators have searched the home of another Brooklyn motorcyclist, believed to have been the one who tried to open the driver's side door of the SUV while it was on the Henry Hudson Parkway. No arrests were made.

Also, police want to speak with two bystanders about what happened, and they have released images of the witnesses.

CLICK HERE TO SEE THE PHOTOS.

Everything started when the Range Rover bumped a biker on the Henry Hudson Parkway. As motorcyclists gathered around Lien's vehicle, he took off, running over Edwin Mieses and sparking the chase and vicious assault that followed.

CLICK HERE TO SEE NEW PHOTOS OF THE SUV

Bikers insist that Lien was the aggressor.

"He drove erratically and bumped the bike on the side," one biker said. "When he bumped that bike on the side, that bike became aggressive because his life was in danger."

Meises' family, which is calling for charges against Lien, is expected to respond to a statement from Lien's wife.

Rosalyn Ng explained why her husband fled the scene and inadvertently drove over Mieses, saying their lives were put in grave danger.

"We were faced with a life-threatening situation, and my husband was forced under the circumstances to take the actions that he did in order to protect the lives of our entire family," Ng said.

She said her family's sympathies went out to Mieses, who broke both legs and suffered spinal injuries that may leave him paralyzed, but said there was no other option than to flee.

"Our fear for our lives was confirmed when the incident ended with the ruthless and brutal attack on my husband, me, and, most importantly, our 2-year-old child," Ng said. "We know in our hearts that we could not have done anything differently, and we believe that anyone faced with this sort of grave danger would have taken the same course of action in order to protect their family."

CLICK HERE for the full text of the statement

The biker involved in the initial accident, Christopher Cruz, is charged with reckless driving and unlawful imprisonment. Prosecutors served notice that they intend to take the case against Cruz to a grand jury, a sign that more serious charges are likely.

A second suspect, Allen Edwards, 42, of Jamaica, Queens, surrendered to police at the 33rd Precinct Tuesday night. It is believed he is the man who punched the rear window of the SUV with his fists at the end of the video.

He was held and questioned overnight Tuesday, and police initially said he would be charged with reckless endangerment, criminal mischief and menacing. But the office declined to prosecute at this time, pending further investigation of the entire incident.

Anyone with information regarding the incident is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477).

ONLINE:

Click here to watch the video on YouTube.

http://abclocal.go.com/wabc/story?section=news/local/new_york&id=9274018

[lostinblue 1,989]

I guess that blows away this observation of "When seconds count the police are minutes away" This was mostly an all black gang attacking an Asian family to the point of attempted murder. Can we say if someone knifes you it is attempted murder? No cop tries to protect the Asian. family, It is impossible for an average person to get a CC permit in NY city. Open season on Asians,

[The Nature Boy 4,224]

I guess that blows away this observation of "When seconds count the police are minutes away" This was mostly an all black gang attacking an Asian family to the point of attempted murder. Can we say if someone knifes you it is attempted murder? No cop tries to protect the Asian. family, It is impossible for an average person to get a CC permit in NY city. Open season on Asians,

Sorry but I believe in taking responsibility for your own safety.

Were are the cops when you need them ?

Well if you are the President or members of Congress they are busy shooting unarmed mentally ill women with babies at point black range.

[Sousuke 1,214]

Sorry but I believe in taking responsibility for your own safety.

Were are the cops when you need them ?

Well if you are the President or members of Congress they are busy shooting unarmed mentally ill women with babies at point black range.

It goes back to the notion that police are under no legal obligation to "protect and serve"

[Janelle2002 3,865]

I guess that blows away this observation of "When seconds count the police are minutes away" This was mostly an all black gang attacking an Asian family to the point of attempted murder. Can we say if someone knifes you it is attempted murder? No cop tries to protect the Asian. family, It is impossible for an average person to get a CC permit in NY city. Open season on Asians,

I saw some white bikers lostinblue. The main guy that was hurt was white. So they were pissed off that there friend was ran over by a freakin SUV. What does your point about them being majority black have to do with anything?

The family would not have needed protection if they had not ran over people.

It's sad because he saw some blak men on bikes and felt the need to run them over. Address that issue.

Edited October 5, 2013 by Janelle2002

[Sousuke 1,214]

I saw some white bikers lostinblue. The main guy that was hurt was white. So they were pissed off that there friend was ran over by a freakin SUV. What does your point about them being majority black have to do with anything?

The family would not have needed protection if they had not ran over people.

It's sad because he saw some blak men on bikes and felt the need to run them over. Address that issue.

Thus far I know they smashed his mirror and struck his window once prior to him driving off. I don't think investigators have released the info regarding slashed tyres but thats a possibility as well.

I'm sure the undercover cops reports are now worth their weight in gold. If they confirm the car was attacked once prior to him driving off, he will never see charges.

Also the biker in the video clearly pulled a brake check about 5 ft from the suv...not exactly the suv's fault.

FYI they do this in California as well and its happened to me outside Vallejo. Stay calm and have a passenger video tape with a smart phone then provide to police. They will find them and charge them.

Edited October 5, 2013 by Brown Dwarf

[lostinblue 1,989]

A vast majority of the bikes had no plates or stolen plates from what I read. in this attack.

[spookyturtle 9,466]

I saw some white bikers lostinblue. The main guy that was hurt was white. So they were pissed off that there friend was ran over by a freakin SUV. What does your point about them being majority black have to do with anything?

The family would not have needed protection if they had not ran over people.

It's sad because he saw some blak men on bikes and felt the need to run them over. Address that issue.

You're joking, right? Did you watch the video?

[spookyturtle 9,466]

More info on this case. The passenger window of the SUV was also smashed, where the wife was sitting and the child in the back seat. The woman was also grabbed by the attackers. But I'm sure she deserved it too.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/10/07/christopher-cruz-nyc-suv-assault-rosalyn-lien-_n_4057279.html?icid=maing-grid7%7Cmain5%7Cdl1%7Csec1_lnk3%26pLid%3D387512

[We Keep Receipts 9,238]

I saw some white bikers lostinblue. The main guy that was hurt was white. So they were pissed off that there friend was ran over by a freakin SUV. What does your point about them being majority black have to do with anything?

The family would not have needed protection if they had not ran over people.

It's sad because he saw some blak men on bikes and felt the need to run them over. Address that issue.

Didn't you hear? Black men are predispositioned to be violent. From the moment we draw breath, we are already considered more dangerous than any other race on the planet.

[GandD 5,966]

I guess that blows away this observation of "When seconds count the police are minutes away" This was mostly an all black gang attacking an Asian family to the point of attempted murder. Can we say if someone knifes you it is attempted murder? No cop tries to protect the Asian. family, It is impossible for an average person to get a CC permit in NY city. Open season on Asians,

I don't think as many things are about race as you do.

[We Keep Receipts 9,238]

I don't think as many things are about race as you do.

Sadly enough, there is a large percent of the population that thinks the exact same thing.

[spookyturtle 9,466]

Sadly enough, there is a large percent of the population that thinks the exact same thing.

That's the truth, and it's frightening. We've got a few right here at VJ. NO mention was made of black bikers, in fact, the ones referenced appear to be Hispanic. I wonder why LIB isn't against the Asian victims. I'm sure if they were black he'd be on the bikers side. Hmmmmmm...........

[Sarah Elle-Même 660]

I saw some white bikers lostinblue. The main guy that was hurt was white. So they were pissed off that there friend was ran over by a freakin SUV. What does your point about them being majority black have to do with anything?

The family would not have needed protection if they had not ran over people.

It's sad because he saw some blak men on bikes and felt the need to run them over. Address that issue.

See, I would buy into giving everyone the benefit of the doubt pending full investigation of the incident - except - I live in NYC. And I lost count a long time ago how many times I've seen a biker (I'm talking gang biker, not the old hobbyist Harley boys or the Vespa hipsters) drive and act erratically and aggressively, and when a motorist gets in their way, they retaliate with indefensible road rage (weaving dangerously, cutting people off, smashing their fists against car windows, keying cars as they ride by, etc). Get them in a pack on the road and you'd better stay the hell away. Future Darwin award winners all.

[We Keep Receipts 9,238]

That's the truth, and it's frightening. We've got a few right here at VJ. NO mention was made of black bikers, in fact, the ones referenced appear to be Hispanic. I wonder why LIB isn't against the Asian victims. I'm sure if they were black he'd be on the bikers side. Hmmmmmm...........

It's the easy way out. Folks are violent, doesn't matter what color they are. But black men are REALLY scary, so it's more dramatic when these stories unfold.