SPRINGFIELD, MA — Members of the Springfield Police Department seized three illegal dirt bikes and arrested three riders during an Off-Highway-Vehicle enforcement detail on Friday and Saturday.
Officers conduct these details to deter the illegal riding of dirt bikes and other off-highway vehicles, which are illegal on any city street and have led to serious injuries and death to numerous riders.
On Friday afternoon, officers observed a dirt bike rider without a helmet on Armory Street.
Once parked, officers approached the rider, later identified as Luis Vazquez, 35, of Springfield.
Vazquez had a suspended license and was placed under arrest and his dirt bike was seized.
Later on Friday, officers observed another dirt bike rider without a helmet on Jefferson Street.
The rider, later identified as Eugene Gonzalez, 18, of Westfield, then got off the bike and another rider, later identified as Geovannie Alicea, 20, of Westfield, got onto the dirt bike without a helmet and drove through Calhaun Park.
Once stopped, officers placed both Alicea and Gonzalez under arrest and seized the dirt bike.
On Saturday afternoon, officers observed a dirt bike rider on Catherine Street.
The rider, a 14-year-old juvenile male, was not wearing a helmet.
Once parked on the 700 block of State Street, officers approached the rider, who was not of age to have a license.
The dirt bike was unregistered and uninsured and had been stolen out of Connecticut.
Officers are requesting a criminal complaint for the 14-year-old.
