WILKES-BARRE, PA – After receiving complaints regarding off-road ATVs and motorcycles, the Wilkes-Barre Police Department has ramped up enforcement in recent months.
This week, police spotted several off-road vehicles operating illegally on city streets and initiated a traffic stop. The illegal riders sped away from the police but crashed into each other and struck the responding police vehicle.
Police arrested Alberto Ramirez-Acosto and Alexon Cruz-Espinal. The incident happened on Tuesday at around 10:35 pm in the area of Oregon and Woods Street.
“As officers attempted to make contact with the operators, two ATVs ran into each other, and one made contact with an officer’s vehicle,” the department said in a statement. “Additional officers arrived in the area to assist. In total, two ATVs and two off-road motorcycles that are not registered to operate on city streets were towed, and two males were placed in custody.”
Charges are pending against the two riders.