27 off-highway vehicles seized in multi-day operation in Massachusetts

More illegal vehicles have been seized in an operation in Massachusetts.

Springfield Police Superintendent Cheryl Clapprood announced the results of another multi-day illegal OHV/Dirt Bike public safety detail. Springfield Police Officers seized 13 off-highway vehicles during three strategic details during the week of March 20th. Springfield Police Officers seized an additional 14 off-highway vehicles the prior week, totaling 27 over the past two weeks.

Springfield Police Superintendent Cheryl Clapprood stated, “Our officers and our law enforcement partners working these specialized illegal dirt bike details are doing great work and we’re already seeing the results. We’re going to continue to step up our enforcement as we utilize new and different strategies throughout the spring to reduce this quality-of-life issue. We continue to ask our lawmakers to help us by getting some kind legal measure on the books to allow us to crush any off-highway vehicle that is seized and is not stolen.”

Mayor Domenic J. Sarno states, “Our Springfield Police Department, under the leadership of Police Superintendent Cheryl Clapprood, will continue to partner with the State Police and Sheriff Nick Cocchi and his team on these anti-dirt bike details. Our brave and dedicated men and women in Blue will continue to actively enforce this quality-of-life issue. I am hopeful that our state legislature will pass our home rule legislation that will allow us to petition the Courts to destroy these illegal dirt bikes so that they won’t plague our streets – I’d love to be the first to personally destroy one! In the meantime, we need the Courts to back our local Police Departments and hold these individuals accountable for their actions and crimes.”

On Tuesday March 22nd Springfield Police Officers along with members of the Hampden County Sheriff’s Department and Massachusetts State Police made one arrest and seized two dirt bikes.

On Wednesday March 23rd, Springfield Police Officers under the direction of Lt. Julio Toledo made two arrests and seized two off-highway vehicles.

On Friday March 25th, Springfield Police Officers under the direction of Lt. Toledo and members of the Hampden County Sheriff’s Department seized nine off-highway vehicles and made four arrests.