First indictment handed down in biker road rage incident

NEW YORK, Oct. 11 (UPI) -- The first indictment in the motorcycle road rage clash in New York in which a man was pulled from his vehicle and beaten was returned, prosecutors said.

Officials did not release what charges were in the indictment Thursday against Robert Sims, accused of stomping Alexian Lien, the driver of the sports utility vehicle, CNN reported Friday.

Sims is one of seven people who face charges in the melee. Authorities have asked for the public's help in identifying people in photos and haven't ruled out more arrests or charges.

A video of the Sept. 29 incident in Manhattan has gone viral.

Assistant District Attorney Samantha Turino said bikers heading north on Manhattan's West Side Highway "were driving recklessly ... obstructing vehicle traffic, running red lights, swerving between lanes" when one of them, identified later as Christopher Cruz, slowed quickly in front of Lien, whose vehicle bumped Cruz's rear tire.

When the SUV stopped, bikers surrounded his vehicle, hit it and spiked its tires, police said.

Lien began driving away, hitting three more bikers, including Edwin Mieses, who was critically injured. The bikers gave chase, eventually surrounding the SUV, striking it with their helmets and dragging Lien from the vehicle. He was kicked and hit, suffering injuries to his face and body, Turino said.

Lien's wife and 2-year-old daughter were in the vehicle but were not harmed.