The Metropolitan Police Department hasn’t changed its policy on pursuing illegal all-terrain vehicles and dirt bikes after a woman was struck by one in Southeast D.C.
A 23-year-old woman was struck last week in a crosswalk on Alabama Avenue SE by the rider of dirt bike who “laughed, hopped on another bike and sped off,” WJLA reported. It’s not known if she’ll be able to walk again, according to her family.
It’s MPD’s policy not to chase offenders on illegal ATVs, motorbikes and dirt bikes, as that can have deadly results. Police spokeswoman Gwen Crump said MPD has not changed its policy. “We have other means to identify the individuals who are driving recklessly without regard to other people’s lives,” she said in an email.
In the past few days, at least two people have been arrested for operating an all terrain vehicle or dirt bike in D.C. One rider was arrested at 3830 Minnesota Avenue NE and the other at 415 Rhode Island NE.
On September 14, more than 100 dirt bikes rode westbound on H Street NE to North Capitol Street NE. “During the incident an MPD vehicle and another civilian vehicle was struck by one individual riding a dirt bike,” Lieutenant Brian Murphy of the First District wrote to an MPD listserv. “The rider fled and made good his escape. There were no injuries to the officer or civilian driver.”
A person was arrested that day for operating an all terrain vehicle or dirt bike at 3940 Pennsylvania Avenue SE.
A few days later, one person allegedly riding a dirtbike was arrested in Northwest D.C. Captain Aubrey Mongal of the Third District explained on the listserv:
At approximately 9:20 p.m. tonight, Third District Units observed several ATVs operating recklessly in the area of 14th and U Street NW. At that time, the Scooter Tactical Unit was deployed to the location to monitor and assess the situation. They were advised that the group had moved up at the Crown Gas Station located at 908 Florida Avenue NW. The Scooter Tactical Unit responded and was able to successfully apprehend one individual operating an ATV without incident. Additionally, after fleeing, a second individual bailed off a dirt bike at 9th and T Street NW. The members were able to recover that dirt bike for evidence as well. NOTE: The use of ATVs and dirt bikes recklessly on our streets will not be tolerated and we encourage all citizens to alert police when the observe the usage or storage of these vehicles.
