Teen Dies After Police Chase, Dirt Bike Crash

A District Heights teen who fled from police and crashed after illegally riding a dirt bike on city streets has died from his injuries, and his family is questioning if the police chase went too far.

On Monday afternoon, Amir Brooks, 17, was riding his dirt bike and left their apartment complex near the intersection of Marlboro Pike and Brooks Drive in District Heights. His mother, Pamela Brooks, told WJLA TV, Amir was pursued by a Prince George’s County Police officer up Pennsylvania Avenue to the D.C. line.

Amir lost control of his dirt bike about three-quarters of a mile into the District, and crashed into a tree. He was not wearing a helmet, and was on life support at MedStar Washington Hospital Center.

His mother told the TV station Wednesday morning that her son had died.

It is illegal to ride an off-road vehicle on public streets in Prince George’s County, WJLA says. Offenders can be ticketed.

“I just don’t understand why they would chase him,” Brooks told WJLA. “I could see if he was committing a crime—doing something really bad—but he was just riding a dirt bike.”

Prince George’s County Police have launched an administrative investigation into the accident, while Metropolitan Police investigate the crash.

Brooks says her son likely didn’t pull over when he was pursued by police because he was afraid.

»Amir Brooks, 17, of District Heights, has died after he fled Prince George’s County Police on a dirt bike and crashed into a tree. Credit: WJLA TV screenshot