2 Bikers Involved In Manhattan Motorcycle Melee Turn Themselves In
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- Police have in custody the suspect who authorities said is seen on a YouTube video violently smashing the window of a SUV after an intense confrontation between the driver and a group of bikers on Sunday.
Law enforcement officials told CBS News that Reginald Chance is the helmet-wielding man who bashed in the front-side window of the Range Rover before allegedly yanking out the driver and beating him in front of his wife and young child.
Chance turned himself in to authorities Friday night and was being questioned at the 33rd Precinct, CBS 2 has learned.
Police had released new pictures of Chance on Wednesday, showing him from the back with his helmet on and another blurry shot of his face.
Earlier Friday, biker Robert Simms turned himself in to police, CBS News' John Miller reported.
Simms was being sought by police in connection with Sunday's assault, Miller reported.
Simms was accompanied by his lawyer. It is alleged that Simms is the man seen on video opening the SUV's door before the car takes off, Miller reported.
Detectives were to question Simms to determine what his role was in the incident and ask him to identify other bikers there that day, Miller reported.
Once Simms is questioned, the detectives will confer with the district attorney to decide whether any charges will be filed, Miller reported.
Several other suspects have also been identified by police.
Authorities are now trying to locate other people who were believed to have witnessed the attack.
Watch The Full Video Below: WARNING — GRAPHIC IMAGES
Police said Alexian Lien was driving his Range Rover with his wife and 2-year-old daughter in the car on Sunday when he was chased by dozens of bikers on the Henry Hudson Parkway.
The entire incident was captured on video by a biker's helmet-mounted camera and later posted to YouTube.
It all started when police said one of the bikers appeared to deliberately slow down in front of Lien's Range Rover and brake hard, forcing Lien to rear-end him.
That's when other bikers surround the SUV. Police said some of the bikers began damaging the Range Rover, hitting it with their helmets and slashing its tires, though it's not clear from the video.
Police said Lien was frightened and took off. He allegedly ran over Edwin "Jay" Mieses, a cyclist from Massachusetts, who has since been hospitalized with critical injuries.
After being chased by the bikers for nearly two miles, Lien was pulled out of his car and beaten when he got off the highway around West 178th Street and St. Nicholas Avenue, police said.
All along, police had been trying to find a man they believe may have saved Lien's life. His picture was circulated around his Washington Heights neighborhood, CBS 2's Jessica Schneider reported.
He's since been identified as Sergio Consuegra and he spoke to CNN on Friday night. He said he was on his way to church when the Range Rover was surrounded by bikers.
"I stood between them and the man lying on the floor and I say to them, 'That's it. Let it go. Let it go, man. That's it. It's done.' You know, don't continue doing it. You're going to kill the man," Consuegra said.
Consuegra said the woman identified as Lien's wife was hysterical.
"Yes, she started screaming and then we saw the baby," he said. "That's when we started seeing the baby inside the car with her, you know? And everybody started screaming 'No, no! Not the lady! Not with the baby! Please don't do that! I scream. too."
Officials said at least five bikers began beating and even slashing the driver.
"Real big guys … and that's when like I started thinking I got to do something because nobody is doing nothing, and they are going to kill this family," Consuegra said. "That's the moment when I turn around and went like this (he extends his arms) protecting the family and I said to myself I'm not going to move from here until they go."
The only person criminally charged so far in Sunday's encounter is Christopher Cruz. The 28-year-old was arraigned Wednesday on misdemeanor charges of reckless driving and unlawful imprisonment.
Police have said he is the one seen at the start of the video cutting in front of Lien's Range Rover, causing the initial collision. His defense lawyer, H. Benjamin Perez, has denied all the allegations.
Several 911 calls made by the Lien family portrayed a frantic situation.
The first came from Lien followed by three more from his wife, Rosalyn Ng, who told the 911 operator they were "being surrounded" and "being followed."
During a final call from 178th Street, Ng told the dispatcher that the bikers were "attacking the car."
It took emergency officials seven minutes to respond. Their sirens can be heard in the background during the final 911 call.
Ng released a statement Thursday saying they were "faced with a life-threatening situation" when they "were placed in grave danger by a mob of reckless and violent motorcyclists."
Lien was taken to the hospital after the attack, where he needed stitches to his face. His wife and child were unhurt.
Mieses broke both legs and suffered a spine injury that his family said will leave him paralyzed.
The following update was posted on the Justice for Jay Meezee Facebook page Friday: Jay has begun to open his eyes, he is in the process of getting better. God truly is great, may he forgive those that do not know. All your prayers and positive feedback has been wonderful! We know that jay will make a quick recovery this week. taking it one day at a time, there is only so much he can do at this moment but he will improve over time.
I will post pictures of his speedy recovery soon! Thank you. God bless.
Ng said her family's sympathies went out to Mieses, but said there was no other option than to flee.
"My husband was forced under the circumstances to take the actions that he did in order to protect the lives of our entire family," she said in the statement. "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 two-year-old child."
Lien has not been charged.
Mieses was recently arrested in Andover, Mass., for driving with a revoked license.
He hasn't had a valid license or permit to drive in the state since 1999 and has never applied for a motorcycle license, according to police and records with the Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles.
High-profile celebrity attorney Gloria Allred is representing Edwin Mieses's family. At a Friday press conference, Allred said the 32-year-old was an innocent victim.
"He was off of his bike. His sole intention was to diffuse the situation," she told reporters including WCBS 880's Marla Diamond.
Biker Edwin Mieses' Girlfriend: 'They Are Not Thugs'
Mieses' longtime girlfriend said he is a devoted family man. Dayana Mejia cried during the press conference Friday and said Mieses 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," Mejia said.
She said the portrayal that the bikers were a violent mob is inaccurate.
"They are not gang members, they are not thugs," Mejia said.
"How we respond in moments of crisis is a measure of who we are. I know my son and I know he's always ready to try to help people," Edwin Mieses Sr. said. "Emotions got the best of several people last Sunday."
Mieses's spine was crushed and Allred said he may never walk again.
One elected official said following Sunday's dangerous mayhem, enforcement efforts need a boost.
"Hearing these motorcycles, seeing them in packs of 3,4 5, 10, 15, 20, 50, 100," said City Councilman Robert Jackson. "A clampdown is definitely going to occur more, especially what has occurred over this past weekend."
Meanwhile, new video surfaced Thursday of what is believed to be the hours leading up to the chase. Bikers can be seen running red lights, popping wheelies and weaving in and out of traffic on the wrong side of the road.
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