7 Arrested After Minibike Stunt Ride in Downtown Portland

Portland, Ore – Portland Police arrested seven people after a wild minibike ride through downtown on Wednesday. Officers, who were monitoring for protests, spotted the group doing “burnouts” at Pioneer Courthouse Square around 9:12 p.m. When police approached, the riders took off on Southwest 6th Avenue, running red lights as they sped away.

The Air Support Unit followed them from above as they headed into the Old Town Neighborhood, crossed the Burnside Bridge, and ended up at a gas station near Southeast Martin Luther King, Jr Boulevard and Alder Street. Officers moved in and arrested seven riders, who were booked at the Multnomah County Detention Center. The charges included reckless driving and trying to run from police. The arrested riders were between 25 and 38 years old.

One rider ran away on foot, leaving his bike behind and wasn’t found. Police seized and towed eight homemade minibikes that didn’t have license plates or proper lights.

An officer hurt his hand during the arrests, got treated at the hospital, and is expected to be off work for about a week.