Motorcyclist Charged With Reckless Driving, Was In Possession Of Cocaine: Stamford Police

STAMFORD, CT — A motorcyclist who police say went through several red lights in downtown Stamford last Friday while revving his engine in front of a marked police car was later arrested and found in possession of cocaine.

Harry Vizcarrondo, 22, of Stamford, was charged with reckless driving, failure to drive in a proper lane, operating a motorcycle without motorcycle endorsement, failure to display a marker plate, two counts of failure to obey a traffic control signal, and possession of narcotics, according to Stamford Assistant Police Chief Richard Conklin. Vizcarrondo was given a $2,500 bond.

The incident unfolded on Oct. 17 at around 12:45 p.m. when a Stamford police officer was on routine patrol in the area of Tresser Boulevard and stopped at a red light.

The officer noticed a motorcycle without a license plate on it driving around several vehicles that were stopped at the light, and the motorcyclist was revving his engine and went through the area at a high rate of speed, Conklin said.

"The bike went through several more red lights, and skidded and revved up his engine in an effort to get the patrol officer to chase him," Conklin said, adding the officer went to stop the motorcycle but it drove off.

A description of the motorcycle and the operator was broadcast to other officers, and the motorcycle was found about 15 minutes later in the South End parked near the intersection of Atlantic Street and Henry Street, Conklin said.

"An officer in an unmarked vehicle took up a position down the street and waited. At approximately 1:20 p.m., the operator returned to the motorcycle and he was wearing the same blue helmet and backpack," Conklin said. "As he was starting to get on the bike, numerous officers converged and placed the party under arrest."

While officers were inventorying Vizcarrondo's property, they found a bag of cocaine weighing 1.3 grams in his backpack.

Conklin praised the patrol officers for following up, and said the incident is a reminder of the difficulties police face in enforcing laws against scooters and motorcycles.

This past April, the Stamford Police Department said it was ramping up enforcement on reckless motorcycle and scooter drivers.

Conklin told Patch at the time that these types of vehicles have been seen throughout the city, oftentimes in the downtown area, on sidewalks, going the wrong way down one-way streets, popping "wheelies," and even refusing to stop when officers try to conduct motor vehicle stops.

The department has received numerous complaints about the vehicles in recent months.