CUMBERLAND -- Two local police departments will join forces in an effort to combat the growing problem of illegal ATV riding in their neighboring communities.
For more than three years, uniformed North Attleboro police officers have conducted regular patrols on off-road motorcycles in that town’s wooded paths, old railroad beds and neighborhood streets where riders are known to frequent, said North Attleboro Capt. Daniel Coyle.
The police department uses a combination of enforcement and education, Coyle said, and works closely with the Massachusetts Environmental Police and a local trail-riding group.
"The biggest complaints we get are the vehicles are riding down main streets at a high rate of speed. We’re trying to avert a tragedy is what we’re trying to do," Coyle said.
It’s a similar effort Cumberland Police Chief Anthony Silva is planning to institute in his department, using 16 trained police officers to patrol the trails on the Monastery grounds and other town properties where police have received an avalanche of complaints from town residents.
Having purchased one off-road motorcycle, the Cumberland Police Department is in the process of buying a second vehicle and plans are in the works to train the local officers who will be on motorcycle patrol, said the chief.
"We’re not the only community having these problems. We want to start a partnership with their department," Silva said of North Attleboro.
The pairing of the two police departments comes on the heels of the latest clash between ATV riders riding illegally on town and private land, and police officers attempting to stop the alleged trespassers.
It left one North Attleboro patrol officer slightly injured and one Cumberland police officer nearly hit by several of the off-road vehicles in the woods off Hines Road and Waumsett Avenue.
Three female riders were arrested by Cumberland police, although they are not believed to have been the main culprits in the off-road exchange with the police officers.
The incident first began near the a wooded area at the Cumberland-North Attleboro town line when North Attleboro Patrol Officer Josh McMahon crashed his motorcycle as he attempted to stop four ATV riders.
Coyle said McMahon lost control of his motorcycle when the riders in front of him slammed on their brakes. The four ATV riders took off down the trail.
McMahon suffered minor injuries, and immediately went back on duty, Coyle said.
Meanwhile, Cumberland police responded to the Hines Road area. According to police reports, Sgt. Paul Brown saw about seven ATV’s at the edge of the road and ordered them to stop.
Instead, the group fled into the woods except for one motorcyclist who revved his engine and headed directly at the officer’s patrol car, swerving away at the last second.
Later, Brown came upon the group again, and this time two of the four-wheel vehicles reportedly sped toward the officer, going more than 40 miles an hour. Brown reported that both vehicles swerved in an attempt to hit him.
North Attleboro Patrol Officer Jolene Bell, who had responded to the Millers Brook area, radioed Brown that three more ATV riders were heading his way.
This time Brown successfully stopped the riders, and arrested Jami Elliot, 19, Erin Elliot, 20, both of 95 Angell Road, and Robin Lyn Kelleher, 20, of 1 Deborah St. All three town women were charged with trespassing, violating a town ordinance, and disobeying a police officer
According to Coyle, his police officer said the arrested riders were not the people involved in the North Attleboro incident. The case is still under investigation.
Cumberland police impounded the three riders’ vehicles.
Silva would not say when the local police would start their off-road motorcycle patrols. But judging from the volume of complaints the police department receives, the patrols will be in multiple locations around town.
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