Dirt bike rider bond set after being accused of dragging police officer

CLEVELAND (WJW) — The FOX 8 I-Team has found one dirt bike rider sitting in jail under investigation, and another, just hit with charges from a different dirt bike incident.

The latest case involves a rider suspected of dragging a police officer while trying to get away.

That grew out of what happened Monday night at West 25 Street and Detroit Avenue.

According to a police affidavit, the suspect, identified as 29-year-old Andrew Fusco, of Ashtabula, allegedly dragged the police officer by his bike. At a felony arraignment hearing Wednesday, Fusco’s bond was set at $40,000.

Fusco is charged with felonious assault.

Sgt. Freddy Diaz released a statement, saying, “While the officers were stopped at the traffic light, a large group of dirt bike riders approached the intersection behind the two police cars. As the officers activated their police lights, the dirt bikes proceeded to disregard the lights and attempted to drive around the police cars onto the Detroit-Superior Bridge.

“As the dirt bikes drove onto the bridge, two of the bikes collided with each other, causing one to fall over. As officers approached, the fallen dirt bike driver attempted to flee, striking the police car. A second dirt bike also struck the police car in the process. Officers attempted to detain the initial rider that struck the police car. During the attempt to evade arrest, an officer was injured.”

That chaotic scene developed just hours after the I-Team exposed another dirt bike takeover.

Sunday, on the west side of Cleveland, riders blocked traffic, tore up a field at Halloran Park and circled police.

From that case, one rider has been charged for having a stolen dirt bike and trying to run over an officer. The first charge in the case just filed, Tuesday, against Dominick Smith.

A dispatcher called out, “Dirt bikes and ATV’s, and they’re surrounding a couple of the District One zone cars at West 117th and Lorain.”

And, an officer called out, “Dirt bikes are tearing up the park, right now.”

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