Newington police have arrested eight people during an investigation into reckless driving of all-terrain vehicles in Newington and surrounding towns.
Police said they received several complaints about ATV riders traveling in groups of up to 100 people this summer, driving into oncoming traffic, pulling wheelies, driving on sidewalks, cutting off other drivers and disobeying traffic control signals.
Police in several towns banded together and created a task force in an effort to stop the problem.
During the investigation, police identified suspects, arrested them and seized several all-terrain vehicles, off road motorcycles, a GMC pickup truck and a Toyota Camry.
Kyle Andrews, 21, of Ansonia, was charged with second-degree reckless endangerment, breach of peace, reckless driving and second-degree accessory to reckless endangerment. He pleaded not guilty and is due back in court on Nov. 17.
Jose Carrasquillo Jr., 29, of Newington, was charged with four counts of second-degree reckless endangerment, breach of peace and reckless driving. He is due in court on Oct. 22. It’s not clear if he has an attorney.
Rashawn Liburd, 23, of Hartford, was charged with second-degree reckless endangerment, reckless driving and second-degree accessory to reckless endangerment.
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Frank Perry, 26, of Shelton, was charged with second-degree reckless endangerment, reckless driving and second-degree accessory to reckless endangerment.
Carlos Santiago, 25, of Hartford, was charged with second-degree reckless endangerment, reckless driving, second-degree accessory to reckless endangerment, possession of less than half an ounce of marijuana and operating an ATV without valid registration. He is due in court on Oct. 27.
Iovanna Elias, 40, of Hartford, was charged with first-degree reckless endangerment, operating a motor vehicle with suspended license, operating a motor vehicle without insurance, misuse of registration plates and operating an unregistered motor vehicle. She pleaded not guilty and is due in court in Oct. 15.
Ryan Myers, 20, of Bloomfield, was charged with creating a public disturbance, reckless driving, disobeying the signal of an officer, interfering with police and inciting injury to persons or property.
Bruno Ignacio Jr., 28, of South Windsor, was charged with failure to obey traffic control signal, operating a motor vehicle while under suspension, operating a motor vehicle without insurance, reckless driving, operating an unregistered ATV, interfering with police and breach of peace.
Police said more arrests are expected.
