UTICA, NY – The Utica Police Department reported a disruptive incident involving a group of ATV riders on February 8th, which led to significant damage to both private and public property across the city.
The riders, described as driving recklessly at high speeds, initially caught the attention of law enforcement as they sped through Oneida Square, prompting an immediate but ultimately ceased pursuit due to the danger posed by the riders’ erratic behavior, including riding on sidewalks.
The situation escalated when officers located the group on the ski hills at Memorial Parkway. An attempt to apprehend the riders resulted in a brief chase when one ATV failed to start, and its operator escaped by hitching a ride on another vehicle.
The group returned shortly after, aggressively targeting officers by driving dangerously close, spraying them with mud and dirt, and causing significant damage to patrol vehicles through repeated impact and vandalism, leading to thousands of dollars in losses.