Channel 19 joined “Operation Rabbit” last weekend and saw the police action firsthand, though other than witnessing a collision when a dirt bike riding on the wrong side of the street drove into an OHSP cruiser, there wasn’t much to report.
CPPA Prez Steve Loomis suggested that officers’ hands were tied because of a restrictive pursuit policy (updated after the Russell/Williams debacle of 2012) which forbids them from engaging with riders “in any way shape or form.”
Officers continue to be taunted, Loomis said, because the riders know that they won’t be pursued. Loomis called on Mayor Jackson and Safety Director McGrath to “step up” and provide support to police.
Councilman Zack Reed agreed with Loomis for the most part, and though his attention has recently been monopolized by the spate of shootings in his ward, he didn’t mince words when he was asked about the Wheelie Kings’ activities:
“They’re obnoxious, they’re arrogant. They’re just no good players rolling up and down our communities,” he said.
Cleveland Police spokespeople have not yet responded to Scene’s request about the results of Operation Rabbit; how many dirt bikes and ATVs were taken off the street, for example, and whether or not there were any arrests.
Scene spent some time with the Mt. Pleasant Wheelie Kings this spring. Read our feature story and check out photos here.
This article appears in Sep 23-29, 2015.
You forgot to mention ASSHOLE thugs….
There…I did….
its just a flash mob of traffic scofflaws who think people are impressed by wheelies
When are the cops planning to do something about the anti-social subculture of motorcycles with freakishly loud exhausts? In my opinion, the clownish exhibitionists on Harleys and similar bikes are nearly as bad as the jerks on dirt bikes in this article. (I’m not talking about motorcycles in general, just the sociopaths that decide they need earth-shakingly loud exhausts)
Since the police aren’t chasing people
Gang: recurrently associating individuals with identifiable leadership and internal organization, identifying with or claiming control over territory in a community, and engaging either individually or collectively in violent or illegal behavior.
these A-holes are a gang and should be deemed so by the Ohio Supreme Court. The U.S, Supreme Court ruled Juggalos, fans of the Insane Clown Posse, as a (GANG) and they are not as disruptive as these morons.
Mayor Jackson, you should be ashamed! Ashamed of yourself and your grandson. Your interview with Carl Monday showed a complete lack of interest and responsibility for what these thugs are doing in the City of Cleveland. Do you understand exactly what the fallout could be for your lack of action. If some innocent bystander gets hurt by one of these idiots I would not be surprised if they sue the city for not keeping these thugs off the streets. I guess you didn’t get the name, “No Action Jackson” for nothing.
Oh, and you want to have a dirt bike/ATV park built for these idiots. Hey, why not supply them with guns, drugs and alcohol as well so they don’t have to risk going to a dealer.
1. classify these thugs as a gang and make it a felony.
2. confiscate all dirt bikes & ATV’s driven illegally on city streets.
3. suspend driver’s licenses till age 25 for anyone caught participating in this illegal street riding.
4. stop restricting police from doing their job.