CHP probes video of motorcyclists shooing, taunting pursuing officer
A California Highway Patrol officer trying to warn a group of 50 motorcyclists about performing stunts on a Bay Area highway was taunted and shooed away by a rider who filmed the encounter.
The video, which was posted Tuesday on YouTube by Gurustunts, shows the riders performing wheelies on Interstate 680 in Milpitas.
The video, which has been viewed more than 250,000 times, offers the riders’ perspective as they fled from the officer.
But now the video and the riders’ actions are being investigated.
“This type of riding is extremely dangerous,†CHP Officer Ross Lee told the Los Angeles Times. “This is not the kind of reckless driving we take lightly.â€
The motorcyclists were filmed speeding on the highway while the officer’s siren can be heard in the background.
Soon after, the video shows the riders speed up to the officer, who is also on a motorcycle and riding ahead of the group in attempt to stop one of them.
Lee says the riders circled the officer several times, taunting him as he tried to stop several of them.
“Nobody was being compliant,†he said. “Nobody would stop.â€
At one point, the officer tried warning the motorcyclist filming the incident.
Instead, the motorcyclist shooed away the officer, waved bye and then celebrated as he rode away from the approaching group.
Fearing for his safety, the officer pulled over and waited for another officer to arrive.
Once the second officer arrived, the pair followed the riders onto San Jose city streets.
But the chase became too dangerous, putting the public at risk, Lee said.
The CHP is looking for information about the riders and the incident.
The riders, he said, violated several laws by driving recklessly, speeding and evading the officer.
Anyone with details about the incident is urged call the CHP in San Jose at (408) 467-5400, or (800) TELL-CHP (1-800-835-5247).
For breaking news in Los Angeles and throughout California, follow @VeronicaRochaLA. She can be reached at [email protected].
Sign up for Essential California
The most important California stories and recommendations in your inbox every morning.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
