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Biker gang assault: Who’s the man behind Hollywood Stuntz? – Metro US

Biker gang assault: Who’s the man behind Hollywood Stuntz?

A screenshot from Hollywood Stuntz's now-defunct website.  Credit: HollywoodStuntz.com A screenshot from Hollywood Stuntz’s now-defunct website.
Credit: HollywoodStuntz.com

The group of bikers involved in an assault on a father driving an SUV with his wife and 2-year-old daughter this weekend were in town for an organized ride called Hollywood Stuntz, police reported earlier this week. It seems that Hollywood Stuntz may actually be the brainchild of a Brooklyn-based stunt biker named Jamie Lao from Ozone Park.

According to a bio on the since-deleted website HollywoodStuntz.net, “Hollywood, as he’s called by his friends and fans” is “part of the Blockstarz Entertainment family, a team of motorcycle stunt riders that hold annual events as a forum for themselves and other stunt riders in the New York area (and sometimes riders from out of state) to show off the most insane stunts the thousands of bystanders have ever seen.” That website was registered under Lao’s name and address using an email address with the Hollywood Stuntz alias.

“The danger involved with motorcycle stunt riding makes the skills displayed that much more intense and crowd-pleasing,” the bio boasted.

Web postings listing the same email address as a contact indicate Hollywood has hosted rides in the city for many years, several of which were recorded in videos posted to YouTube. In the video of last year’s ride, commenters noted that this year’s was scheduled for Sept. 29.

Hollywood himself has several sponsors, according to his bio, including Skunk Clothing, Full Throttle Inc, No Label Watches and Sick Innovations. None of the sponsors returned calls, emails or text messages inquiring after Lao.

According to a bio on the site, Hollywood “hopes to garner more attention and more sponsors as he continues on his path to stardom.” In another bio on Stuntlife.com, his bike of choice is listed as a “Quad/ATV.”

A Facebook page for someone identified only as “Hollywood Stuntz Net,” the address of the website, shows photos of a man riding an ATV. The Facebooker says the picture depicts him “leading the pack” on a group ride held on Super Bowl Sunday 2012. Multiple YouTube videos purport to show Hollywood Stuntz rides from prior years, and commenters on last year’s video discuss Sept. 29 as the date for this year’s event. The Facebook user Hollywood Stuntz “likes” a page that appears to belong to Edwin “Jay” Mieses, the Lawrence, Mass., biker who was injured in the fracas. Hollywood Stuntz also lists a woman with the surname Lao as a family member.

No one replied to a request for comment sent to the email address associated with the many Hollywood Stuntz web postings and the site registered in Lao’s name. Lao did not respond a text message sent to the phone number associated with the site, and his voicemail was full. The manager listed on the now-defunct HollywoodStuntz.net website, Justin Martinez, is also responsible for a Hollywood Stuntz bike ride event listing on Facebook. Martinez also did not respond to e-mails or phone calls.

Chaos from the same Hollywood Stuntz ride last year prompted the NYPD to set up checkpoints at bridges and tunnels into Manhattan this year. Police Commissioner Ray Kelly said that this year, 15 people were arrested, 55 motorcycles were confiscated, and 69 summonses were issued in connection to the Hollywood Stuntz ride.

The NYPD said it does not yet have information on Lao.

Follow Danielle Tcholakian on Twitter @danielleiat