I-Team: Rogue Bikers' Behavior Now Under Investigation
By Walt Hunter
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- A CBS3 I-Team Investigation got answers about how scores of riders on dirt bikes and ATVs were able to race through city streets for nearly three hours Tuesday afternoon, ignoring traffic laws and putting pedestrians and other drivers in danger.
It began following a funeral service for a fellow rider attended by more than 300 riders from around the state.
Deputy Police Commissioner Kevin Bethel told CBS 3's Walt Hunter that following the memorial, a rogue group of about 50 bikers took to the street, racing through neighborhoods around the city.
No traffic tickets were issued as video from Chopper 3 showed bikers at high speed driving across sidewalks and in the wrong lanes of busy highways performing "stunts."
Commissioner Bethel explained that the police kept a close watch on nearly 300 riders throughout the funeral and procession; however, once bikers left the service, officers -- under departmental guidelines -- were unable to pursue them, because of the risk that a chase would cause even more reckless riding.
Bethel says he found video of the bikers' behavior "disturbing" and says the department will analyze how it handled the situation which, he describes as "an anomaly."
The Commissioner pointed out that Philadelphia Police have been proactive in cracking down on illegal ATVs and dirt bikes, staging surprise raids around the city and confiscating them.
So far, Bethel says, the city has seized 83 this year. And, he says, video of Tuesday's wild driving is now being analyzed to determine if any of those drivers will be cited or their bikes seized.
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