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The NYPD faced criticism when some of the bikers involved in the chase and attack were identified as off-duty [[New York City Police Department|New York City police officers]]. Ten-year veteran and [[undercover detective]] Wojciech Braszczok surrendered to authorities and was [[arrested]] on October 8.<ref name="dailynews2">{{cite web|url=http://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/undercover-lied-role-biker-beatdown-suv-driver-source-article-1.1479369 |title=Undercover NYPD detective charged for role in Manhattan biker gang beatdown: sources |first=Rocco |last=Parascandola |first2=Shayna |last2=Jacobs |first3=Larry |last3=Mcshane |work=[[Daily News (New York)|Daily News]] |date=October 8, 2013 |accessdate=October 14, 2013}}</ref> An undercover narcotics detective has been identified by the press as being present but not participating in the assault.<ref name="dailynews2"/> Sources have reported a total of five off-duty officers were originally present on the West Side Highway, and that at least two saw the assault.<ref name="ABC">{{cite web|url=http://abclocal.go.com/kfsn/story?section=news/national_world&id=9275585 |title=5 off-duty officers among bikers in SUV incident |publisher=[[American Broadcasting Company|ABC]] |date=October 4, 2013 |accessdate=October 14, 2013}}</ref>
Following the altercation, there was much discussion regarding whether this group of riders was a "[[biker gang]]". It was commonly referred to as a biker gang, more specifically, "Hollywood stuntz gang" in the news. The title "Hollywood Stuntz" itself does not apply to the riders, but a man named Jamie Lao, who organized the rally and goes by the title. He denies being present for the incident.<ref name=nymag>{{cite news|last=coscarelli|first=joe|title=The Man Behind Hollywood Stuntz Swears He Doesn’t Have a Real Biker Gang|url=http://nymag.com/daily/intelligencer/2013/10/jamie-lao-man-behind-hollywood-stuntz-biker-gang.html|newspaper=NY Mag|date=10/8/2013}}</ref> A report on the topic by the California Department of Justice stated that “outlaw motorcycle gangs are sophisticated organizations who utilize their affiliation with a motorcycle club as a conduit for criminal activity. The nature of their activity is generally conspiratorial, and their goals are attained through use of violence and intimidation.” While many of the bikers were found to have criminal histories and it appeared there were aspects of intimidation in the incident on September 29 as well as on the 2011 video, many pointed out that the bikers who gathered on that day do not have any affiliation with each other aside from participating in the ride.<ref name=gangs/><ref name=taunting/> Former New York police chief Bill Bratton said these groups are popping up nationally. They are typically organized online and congregate with the intention of performing high speed stunts en masse. Bratton explains that traditional motorcycle gangs are typically white, rooted in a specific neighborhood, and involved in drug dealing. These new groups are racially diverse, younger, loosely affiliated, and do not use the group for the purposes of furthering criminal enterprises.<ref name=gangs>{{cite news|last=Peters|first=Justin|title=Yes, “Motorcycle Gangs” Still Exist. No, They Didn’t Attack a Man in New York|url=http://www.slate.com/blogs/crime/2013/10/02/alexian_lien_hollywood_stuntz_yes_motorcycle_gangs_still_exist_no_they_didn.html|newspaper=Slate|date=October 2, 2013}}</ref><ref name=taunting>{{cite news|title=Dangerous new breed of biker gang seeks Internet glory, taunting police|url=http://www.nbcnews.com/news/investigations/dangerous-new-breed-biker-gang-seeks-internet-glory-taunting-police-v20790189|accessdate=23 February 2014|newspaper=NBC News}}</ref>
Celebrity lawyer [[Gloria Allred]] was hired to represent the critically injured Mieses by members of his family, while the law firm of Massimo & Panetta, P.C., represents the Lien family.<ref name="nbc">{{cite web|url=http://usnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2013/10/02/20783272-biker-injured-in-nyc-clash-with-suv-hires-celebrity-attorney-gloria-allred |title=Biker injured in NYC clash with SUV hires celebrity attorney Gloria Allred |first=Alexander |last=Smith |first2=Tracy |last2=Connor |publisher=[[NBC News]] |date=October 2, 2013 |accessdate=October 14, 2013}}</ref> Allred claims Mieses was the victim in the incident. "He did nothing wrong...all he had done was get off his bike, go over and try to calm everybody down", she said. She reasoned that Lien could have honked his horn or told the bikers to get out of the way to give them a chance to part.<ref name=Allred>{{cite news|last=Morgan|first=Piers|title=Gloria Allred on motorcycle victim involved in SUV swarm|url=http://piersmorgan.blogs.cnn.com/2013/10/07/gloria-allred-on-motorcycle-victim-involved-in-suv-swarm-he-did-nothing-wrong-all-he-had-done-was-get-off-his-bike-go-over-and-try-to-calm-everybody-down/|newspaper=CNN|date=October 7, 2013}}</ref>
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