New Bedford Mayor vows to take stand against reckless off-road vehicle driving

One day after a New Bedford police officer was rundown by a man on a dirt-bike, the city’s mayor is vowing to strengthen the penalties for those operating off-road vehicles recklessly in his city.

In all, 11 people were arrested the organized ride, many of them including the driver who hit the officer appeared in court on Tuesday.

"I’m really distressed by the kind of behavior we saw on our streets. This kind of reckless behavior by ATV’s on streets on sidewalks and other places where pedestrians are is entirely unacceptable,” said Mayor Jon Mitchell.

Police got wind of the coordinated ride on social media. A joint task force including New Bedford and Environmental Police as well as Homeland Security tracked them with a helicopter.

Police say they were running lights, driving on sidewalks and endangering trick or treaters.

Police moved in around 6-15 at the old Flagship Cinema on Kings Highway.

It was at that point that they say 24-year-old Carlos Gonzalez ran down Sgt. Trinidad.

"He ended up sending Sgt. Trinidad into the air knocking him unconscious,” said the prosecutor.

The mayor is now speaking out. He wants to see stricter penalties to deter this growing trend of bikers behaving badly.

"It’s not going to be tolerated here. We are not going to put up with this kind of behavior. I’ve directed my City Solicitor to look into ways in which we can weed out heavier penalties for people who behave like this and ways in which we can impound their vehicles so they don’t get them back,” said Mayor Mitchell.

As for the officer struck, he has been released from the hospital and is on the road to recovery.

(C) WLNE 2016