PRINCE GEORGE'S COUNTY, Md. —
Prince George’s County police are launching an investigation into a video on social media showing an officer chasing a dirt bike rider over the weekend.
The video shows a crowd of dirt bikes and ATVs riding near Southern Avenue on Saturday. Some of the drivers were reportedly riding on the wrong side of the road and ignoring stop lights.
Though dirt bikes and ATVs are illegal on public roads, the department says one of their officers broke policy by chasing after the rider.
In the video one police cruiser is seen making a sudden U-turn, chasing the dirt bike onto the grass and turning on police lights and a siren.
In a statement Monday, the department said officers were alerted to the group and were monitoring them until they reached the D.C.-Maryland border. The chase lasted roughly seven seconds and no arrests were made, according to police.
“Our departmental policy prohibits officers from initiating pursuits under these circumstances, unless a shift commander deems the suspect a greater danger to the public than the pursuit itself. Preliminarily this does not appear to be the case in this instance“ the department said.
Authorities said the investigation began before the video was released. They also noted their department hears from county residents who are not fond of illegal ATV and dirt bike riding on public roads -- especially when the riders are endangering the safety of others.
"It is not PGPD policy to meet reckless behavior with reckless behavior, but we will continue to evolve strategies such as the escort captured prior to the pursuit, that seeks to prevent innocent persons, either in vehicles or on foot, from being harmed," the department said.