The dirt bike menace has been growing in Baltimore, and just last Sunday evening, over 200 riders took to the streets, outnumbering police officers by a large margin.
They even surrounded Baltimore Police Department officers before fleeing from the scene. However, no arrests were made.
Viral footage that was posted to social media highlighted the chaotic spectacle, as riders swarmed the street and performed stunts while officers in a patrol vehicle watched them pop wheelies.
The incident highlights the challenges police face in tackling illegal dirt bike activity on city streets.
Officers Responded to Dirt Bike Activity in Northwest Baltimore
According to an Instagram post by the Baltimore Sun, more than 200 dirt bikers were performing stunts and riding recklessly near a Hip Hop Fish & Chicken in Northwest Baltimore on Sunday night.
The Baltimore police responded to a call from the 3100 block of Reisterstown Road, located in the city’s Liberty Square neighborhood, around 7:19 p.m. on June 28.
When officers arrived at the location, they saw the dirt bikers in action. As they attempted to approach them, the officers found themselves surrounded. As a result, more officers were dispatched to the area.
However, the dirt bikers had left the area by then. No injuries were reported during the incident.
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Baltimore’s Ongoing Battle With Illegal Dirt Bike Riders
According to a report by CBS News, Baltimore police have been trying to curb illegal dirt bike activity for some time, especially after recent incidents highlighted the threat they pose to life and property.
An officer was injured in May after being struck by a dirt bike in the area of Maryland Avenue and Falls Road. Police said that suspect Mautice Greene bit an officer on the forearm.
In another incident from the same month, a dirt biker was killed after crashing into an SUV. The driver of the SUV was not charged. Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott addressed the reckless riding incidents in May. He said:
“Driving dirt bikes in that manner is extremely dangerous. Dirt bike culture is here, and it’s not going anywhere. This is why we say that you can’t be doing these things.”
In early June, Baltimore police warned gas station owners that they could face up to $1,000 in fines or even 90 days in jail if they allowed dirt bike riders to fill up at their pumps.
A gas station near W. Cold Spring Lane was asked to shut off fuel lines if they heard or saw dirt bikes approaching. But this is turning out to be a challenge for gas station owners.
“When dirt bikes come through our road, like we just shut all the pumps,” a gas station manager said. “It impacts our business a lot. When there are three or four customers at our station, if we shut down the pumps, they will be in trouble, and they come here and say, ‘Give me a refund,’ or something like that.”