SPRINGFIELD, MA — Springfield police seized an illegal dirt bike and two mopeds during an off-highway vehicle enforcement detail on July 10 and July 12.
Officers conduct the details to deter illegal riding of dirt bikes and other off-highway vehicles.
The vehicles are illegal on city streets and have led to serious injuries and deaths to riders, police said.
Some riders also drive recklessly, endangering pedestrians and other traffic, police said.
On July 12, officers observed a high-powered moped driving erratically without a license plate in the Mason Square neighborhood.
The rider rode through backyards in an attempt to flee.
Officers located the rider on Cortland Street, but the rider jumped off the moped and ran into a swamp, escaping arrest.
Police seized and towed the moped.
On July 10, officers observed a group of off-highway vehicles on the 1000 block of St. James Avenue.
The riders entered Chicopee but returned to Springfield and stopped on the 100 block of Hampden Street in Indian Orchard.
One moped rider, later identified as Tavon Bush, crashed into another moped while trying to flee, police said.
Officers arrested Bush and Joseph Velez at the location.
The dirt bike Velez was riding had a stolen license plate attached, police said.
The dirt bike and moped were seized and towed.
Tavon Bush, 35, of Springfield, is charged with operating a motor vehicle without a license, negligent operation of a motor vehicle, red lens violation, marked lanes violation, operating an unregistered motor vehicle and operating an uninsured motor vehicle.
Joseph Velez, 28, of Miami, is charged with operating a motor vehicle with a suspended license, negligent operation of a motor vehicle, receiving stolen property, operating an unregistered motor vehicle, operating an uninsured motor vehicle, red lens violation, marked lanes violation and attached plates to conceal ID of motor vehicle.
