Cleveland patrol cars hit by dirt bike riders

CLEVELAND (WJW) – The Cleveland Division of Police is releasing more information about what led to an officer’s injuries late Monday night.

According to police, two officers were stopped at the traffic light at W. 25 ^th St. and Detroit around 9:30 p.m. on July 1.

Police say a large group of dirt bike riders approached the intersection behind the police cars. That’s when police say the officers activated the lights in their patrol cars.

Police say the dirt bikes disregarded the police lights and started driving around the patrol cars onto the Detroit-Superior Bridge.

Police say two of the bike riders collided.

As officers walked up to help, police say the fallen dirt bike rider hit one of the patrol cars in an attempt to flee.

A second dirt bike also struck the patrol car.

An officer was injured while police tried to detain the rider who first hit the patrol car.

The officer was taken to the hospital with minor injuries, according to EMS.

The President of the Cleveland Police Patrolmen’s Association Andy Gasiewski tells the I-Team the officer was getting checked out at the hospital last night.

The officer was released from the hospital Tuesday.

Police said a 29-year-old male from Ashtabula was arrested at the scene. He has not been identified.

Gasiewski has told the I-Team previously he is concerned about officer safety due to low staffing numbers.

The I-Team has reported multiple times on groups of dirt bike riders taking over Cleveland streets.

Recently released video , from just one day before, shows dirt bike riders blocking traffic, tearing up a city park, and surrounding police on the city’s westside.

CLICK HERE to see and learn more about that incident.

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