EASTHAMPTON — Motorcycles sped through Easthampton Sunday evening, passing through stop signs, ignoring police and weaving through traffic.
Wilfredo Rivera, 45, of Springfield, and Jonathan Martinez, 22, of Springfield, were arrested on charges of failing to stop for police and reckless operation of a motor vehicle. Rivera also faces a charge for driving without a license.
At 6:32 p.m. Sunday, the department started receiving multiple calls about 20 to 30 bikers speeding through Loudville Road and Glendale Street, according to Detective Eric Alexander.
When Officer Andrew Beaulieu was leaving the station on Payson Avenue to respond to the call, a group of 10 to 12 motorcyclists passed by the station and went onto Cottage Street, going over the posted speed limit of 25 mph, according to Beaulieu’s report.
When he put on his blue lights and sirens, the motorcyclists accelerated, Beaulieu wrote.
“As we began down Holyoke Street, the motorcycles were passing cars, forcing the cars over to the shoulder,” Beaulieu wrote.
The group of motorcyclists got stuck in traffic and Beaulieu was able to pull up, blocking in half the group, the report states. Four motorcyclists got away, but Beaulieu said he was able to get the license plate numbers of two of the bikes.
He followed the motorcyclists that drove off, up Holyoke Street where it turns into Mountain Road, but they got away, the report states. The officer blocked traffic in both travel lanes. Rivera and Martinez, who both initially sped away from Beaulieu, the report alleges, drove up to Beaulieu and were arrested.
A short way down the mountain, a group of about 20 motorcyclists were stopped by Officer Ilona Dorosh, the report states. Plates were run and one driver was found to be operating without a license.