ATV Riders Confront Cops In National Harbor: Police

NATIONAL HARBOR, MD -- One man has been arrested after a heated confrontation between a large group of ATV riders and police officers in National Harbor on Sunday, police say.

Patrol officers assigned to the Harbor Unit at National Harbor saw a group of 10 to 15 ATVs and dirt bikes in the area of 100 Monument Avenue at around 3 p.m. and began to monitor them, according to a report from the Prince George's County Police Department.

"The riders passed the officers, revving their engines, popping wheelies and driving recklessly through traffic," the report states. "Patrol officers followed behind the ATVs and dirt bikes with their emergency lights activated in an effort to record the riders’ traffic violations. Our officers maintained safe distance as the riders’ illegal driving behavior was placing other motorists, officers, and the riders themselves at risk."

The group eventually started to surround the police cars as the officers were driving along Monument Avenue.

"One of our officers slowed down and began moving towards the side of the road to stop so he could allow a group of ATVs and dirt bikes to pass," the report states. "One of the riders, 23 year-old Marlon Escobar-Lopez of Fort Washington, popped a wheelie behind the officer’s vehicle and collided into the rear bumper of the stopped marked police cruiser, which threw him off of his ATV."

Escobar-Lopez tried to run away, but officers were able to catch him and place him under arrest, police say.

"Other ATV and dirt bike riders began to surround the officers yelling and videotaping the officers on their cell phones," the report states. "Additional patrol units were called to the scene for assistance. As they arrived, the ATV and dirt bike riders fled and drove recklessly on the wrong side of the road, rode on sidewalks, and then exited the National Harbor via 295 towards the District."

Escobar-Lopez had injuries that were not life-threatening, and police say no one else was injured.

According to the report, police charged Escobar-Lopez with "disorderly conduct, malicious destruction of property value over $1,000, reckless driving, negligent driving, operating unregistered motor vehicle, violating license restriction, failure to display registration card on demand, driving ATV without driver’s license, driving without current tags, knowingly driving uninsured vehicle, driving motor vehicle on highway without required license and authorization, failure to display license on demand, failure to obey designated lane directions, individual operating on a motorcycle without required head gear protection, following vehicle too closely, attempt by driver to elude uniformed police by fleeing on foot, failure to control vehicle speed on highway to avoid collision, operate motor vehicle with operator not restrained by seat belt, operating ATV in Prince George’s County on a controlled access highway, and marijuana paraphernalia possession charges."

Across the D.C. area, police have been trying to crack down on large groups of ATV and dirt bike riders who take advantage of their mobility and numbers to elude police.