Police are searching for the two suspects pictured here in connection with Sunday’s assault. Credit: DCPI
Police are asking for the public’s help in identifying two motorcyclists who pulled an SUV driver from his vehicle and beat him on Sunday.
A swarm of motorcycle riders traveling north on the West Side Highway surrounded the black Range Rover as Alexian Lien, 33, drove in the center lane with his wife and young child. When one of the motorcyclists apparently stopped short, Lien struck him, knocking the motorcyclist off his bike. What happened immediately after is not clear, but moments later, the black Range Rover is seen on video barreling through the motorcyclists, and a chase ensued. [videoembed id=228212]
Upon reaching West 178th Street and St. Nicholas Avenue, the suspects pulled the victim from his car, assaulted him, slashed his tires and damaged his vehicle, police said.
Motorcyclists from various locations were traveling to Times Square for an unauthorized stunt event, Police Commissioner Ray Kelly said on Monday.
“They come together. They have sort of rally points,” he said. “Last year, they drove down Broadway. Well over 1,000 motorcycles, dirt bikes, quads, which are four-wheel vehicles, they drove down, they stopped in Times Square and blocked traffic.”
Kelly said the motorcyclists weren’t able to make it to Time Square this year because of checkpoints at bridges and tunnels.
Police arrested 15 people and confiscated 55 motorcycles on Sunday, Kelly said. But none of those arrests were related to the assault on Lien.
Police released a photo of the two suspects they are trying to locate. One of the suspects has a Guyana flag on the rear of his motorcycle, police said.
Anyone with information regarding this incident is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477). The public can also submit tips by logging onto the Crime Stoppers website or by texting their tips to 274637 (CRIMES) then entering TIP577. All calls are strictly confidential.
