SPRINGFIELD — Springfield police officers seized two illegal off-highway vehicles Friday while working a high visibility anti-dirt bike detail.
The purpose of these details is to detect, deter and intervene in illegal OHV activity.
OHVs and dirt bikes are not only illegal on city streets, but dangerous as several dirt bike and OHV riders have been killed or seriously injured in crashes.
Around 4:40 p.m., officers arrested 29-year-old Luis Rivera at a gas station on the 1800 block of Boston Road.
Officers had responded to Laconia Street for a report of a dirt bike disturbance.
They spoke with Rivera and informed him if he rode his dirt bike on the street, he was subject to arrest.
Rivera then sped past the officer and marked police cruiser.
Assisting officers located Rivera at a gas station on Boston Road where he was placed under arrest and the dirt bike was seized.
Around 6:10 p.m., officers observed an electric OHV in the area of Bay and Girard streets.
Officers later saw this same individual, identified as Gamalier Acosta, riding with two small children who did not have helmets on.
Officers located Acosta near the intersection of Bay and Catharine streets, and he was placed under arrest.
The OHV was towed.
Rivera is charged with operating a motor vehicle with a suspended license, snow-recreation vehicle public way violation and motorcycle equipment violation.
37-year-old Gamalier Acosta of Springfield is charged with operating a motor vehicle with a suspended license, snow/recreation vehicle public way violation, snow/recreation vehicle negligent operation of a motor vehicle, snow/recreation vehicle helmet violation and snow/recreation vehicle unregistered.
