Video shows illegal dirt bike activity in Baltimore that led to officer's injury

A video obtained by CBS News Baltimore shows dirt bikers illegally riding on city streets on Sunday, May 31, which led to an officer being struck. 

The footage was shared by a business at the intersection of W. Lafayette and Maryland avenues. One of the videos shows a dirt-bike rider on the sidewalk.

Baltimore police officers were conducting crowd control at a club letting out near the 1700 block of Maryland Avenue around 2:30 a.m.

During that time, a group of people on dirt bikes and ATVs was traveling through the intersection at Maryland Avenue and Falls Road, officials said.   

An officer was injured as police responded to the unlawful activity. The officer was taken to a hospital and has since been released, according to police. 

Police are searching for the person accused of striking the officer. 

Man arrested, officer struck by dirt bike

Mautice Greene, 30, was arrested in connection with the incident and charged with attempting to elude police. Greene also received seven citations, including one for driving without a license, according to charging documents. 

Court records say Greene was driving alongside a police car when he started leaning on it to try to prevent police from driving down the street. Greene fell off his bike. 

Police said officers tried to arrest him, and during a brief struggle, Greene bit an officer in the forearm.

"That's the first time I've ever heard that before. That sounds like some cannibalism going on," said Tay, a North Baltimore resident.

Another officer called to assist was allegedly struck by another dirt biker, according to investigators.

Crackdown efforts on illegal dirt bike riding

The incident comes after Baltimore Police initiated a crackdown on illegal off-road vehicles following a deadly dirt bike crash in early May. A dirt bike driver died after colliding with an SUV. The driver of the SUV will not be charged, police said. 

"Driving dirt bikes in that manner is extremely dangerous," Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott said in response to the crash. "Dirt bike culture is here, and it's not going anywhere. This is why we say that you can't be doing these things."

Police Commissioner Richard Worley said during a city budget hearing this week that his department is committed to getting every illegal dirt bike off the street.

"Quite honestly, I can't stand them," Worley said. "They raised the stakes the other day when the rat tried to run up the back of one of my officers with their dirt bike."

Three off-road vehicles were taken off the streets this week by police in Cameron Village. Police say investigators served a search warrant and found them in a backyard shed.

During the last weekend in May, investigators seized 11 dirt bikes during an enforcement event. Officers received a tip that led to a gathering of dirt bikes and ATVs. Nine vehicles were seized during that time. Another two vehicles were taken during a separate enforcement event, police said. 

On Tuesday, city police said gas station owners could face fines of up to $1,000 or 90 days in jail for supplying fuel to dirt bikes. 

According to police, there are other active investigations into illegal dirt biking in the city. 

Not everyone agrees the crackdown is needed.

"When dirt bikes come through our road, we just start all the impacts on business a lot," Tay said. "I would say nothing wrong with riding around on the bikes, as long as people are not getting hit."

Baltimore residents with information about dirt bikes, where they are stored, and who is supplying them fuel can contact police through the Dirt Bike Tipline at 443-902-4474 or by emailing DirtBikeTips@baltimorepolice.org.