Off-Duty Police Officers Found To Have Been Present During Biker Attack On New York Family

We have been following the extraordinary case of the family terrorized by a gang of bikers in New York city. Alexian Lien, 33, was beaten and slashed in the attack which came after a long chase by the bikers. Previously, Christopher Cruz, 28. Cruz was charged with reckless endangerment, menacing, reckless driving and acting in a manner injurious to a child less than 17. A second suspect — Allen Edwards, 42, of Queens, was charged with reckless endangerment, criminal mischief and menacing. He is believed to be the man seen on video below striking the Range Rover windows with his fists in the video below. The man with the chrome-colored helmet is reported to be Reginald Chance, 38, of Brooklyn. Another man, Robert Sims, 35, of Brooklyn has also been arrested. As many as five men appear to have beaten Lien, though the criminality would seem to extend to other bikers who trapped and pursued the family. It now appears that at least two off-duty police officers may have been present at the chase and/or beating of the family and did not immediately intervene or come forward.

The video shows Lien and his wife and child being stopped by the group. The bikers reportedly started denting the SUV with their helmets and may have slashed its tires. Lien is shown trying to escape by running over motorcycles and hitting at least one person. That person Edwin Mieses may be left a paraplegic after surgery for injuries to his heart, lungs and ribs.

The video shows the bikers pursuing the fleeing SUV and making an attempt to enter it when stopped in traffic. Ultimately, bikers catch the SUV a third time and shatter the windows and attack Lien in front of his wife and daughter. Lien was pulled out of his car and beaten by the bikers.

Notably, the officers are now accused of not simply being part of the bikers and doing nothing to protect the family, but then remaining silent for four days before coming forward. By the time they came forward, the police were already identifying and arresting individuals.

The officers may be members of a motorcycle group called the Front Line Soldiers. The investigation is looking into whether they participated in the fight. However, I would also be concerned that they were part of a huge group of bikers harassing other drivers and then failed to come forward, according to reports.

One person Edwin Mieses may be left a paraplegic after surgery for injuries to his heart, lungs and ribs. Mieses was recently arrested in Andover, Mass., for driving with a revoked license and appears to have been driving again without a license. His right to drive in the state was revoked until 2017. His family has hired a lawyer and insists that Mieses was telling other bikers to leave and was walking back to his bike when he was hit. The problem is a question of the scope of what is considered a reasonable effort of escape. In torts, Lien would not have been able to use the vehicle to hit Mieses or others to protect the vehicle from property damage. You are not allowed to use force calculated to cause serious bodily injury or death in defense of property. The family will argue that they had reason to fear the bikers since they, including Mieses, appear to have stopped the vehicle in the middle of the street and damaged the SUV.