A New Bedford Police Officer was seriously injured Monday night after being run over by a dirt bike in the North End.

New Bedford Police say 35-year-old Sgt. Candido Trinidad was transported to Rhode Island Hospital with serious but non-life threatening injuries after being hit by the dirt bike that was part of a group of off-road vehicles stopped by police.

Police say nine individuals had been riding their dirt bikes, ATVs, and other off-road vehicles throughout the city, driving recklessly and causing a hazard for children and families out trick-or-treating. The drivers of the vehicles were arrested outside of the former Flagship Cinemas at 500 Kings Highway. During the course of the arrest, one of the drivers ran over Sgt. Trinidad with his dirt bike.

The driver of the dirt bike, 24-year-old Carlos Gonzalez of New Bedford, is charged with assault and battery with a dangerous weapon, driving to endanger, refusing to stop for a police officer, unlawful operation of a recreational vehicle on a roadway, operating a motor vehicle without a license, operating a motor vehicle without a helmet, trespassing, disturbing the peace, and resisting arrest. Gonzalez was treated and released from St. Luke's Hospital for minor injuries.

Other arrests include:

  • Melvin Gonzalez, 18, of 329 North Front St., Apt. 1, charged with disorderly conduct, reckless operation of a motor vehicle and unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle.
  • Eliezer Rosado, 25, of 60 Salisbury St. Apt. 1, charged with disturbing the peace, disorderly conduct and reckless operation of a motor vehicle.
  • Fabio Correia-Tavares, 27, of 55 County St. Apt. 3, charged with disorderly conduct and reckless operation of a motor vehicle.
  • Jonathan Garcia, 26, of 220 Phillips Ave., charged with disturbing the peace, reckless operation of a motor vehicle and operating a motor vehicle with a license that was revoked for being a habitual traffic offender.
  • Alex Pizzaro, 25, of 20 Holly St., charged with reckless operation of a motor vehicle, operating after suspension of license, operating an uninsured vehicle and disorderly conduct.
  • Joshua Washburn, 22, of 196D Bryant Lane, charged with reckless operation of a motor vehicle, operating a motor vehicle with a suspended license and disorderly conduct.
  • Wilfredo Colon, 29, of 1078 June St., charged with reckless operation of a motor vehicle, operating a recreational vehicle on a public way and operating a recreational vehicle without a helmet.
  • Elemuel Robles-Maldonado, 32, of 18 Reynolds St., charged with reckless operation of a motor vehicle, operating without a license, failure to stop for a police officer, operating with no helmet, trespassing and disturbing the peace.

All nine defendants are scheduled to be arraigned Tuesday in New Bedford District Court.

New Bedford Police towed five scooters, five ATVs, three dirt bikes, and one motorcycle from the scene.

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