Man on Dirt Bike Busted for Trafficking Cocaine; Encouraged to Flee by Bystanders

WORCESTER, MA—A man is facing drug trafficking charges after police pulled him over this weekend as he drove a dirt bike.

On Saturday, Sept. 3, a member of the newly formed Neighborhood Response Team (NRT) was working in plain clothes in an unmarked vehicle, spotting around 10 a.m. a man later identified as Nathanial Hernandez-Reyes, 22, McFarland Court, Worcester, driving a dirt bike east on Wellington Street. Reyes was not wearing a helmet or eye protection. Mr. Reyes was also observed driving through an intersection without stopping at the stop sign.

The officer followed Reyes as he traveled to the BP Gas Station parking lot located at the intersection of Murray Avenue and Chandler Street, where Reyes got off his dirt bike and entered the store. When Reyes returned to the bike, the officer approached him, asking for his license and registration. Reyes ignored the officer’s request several times, said police, and started to walk backwards away from the dirt bike and the officer.

The officer grabbed on to his arm, fearing he was going to flee, and told him he was under arrest, at which time a violent struggle ensued. Reyes broke free from the officer, running off as the officer gave chase. Reyes ran to 19 Chandler St. and attempted to enter the building but the officer was closing in and the door was closed.

For the next few minutes Reyes was running in-between parked cars trying to keep away from the officer by using the cars as a barrier. Several people who watched called 911.

No one helped the officer, instead many recorded the incident on their cell phones, with man encouraging Reyes to get away, reported police.

The officer was closing in on Mr. Reyes when some people within the crowd started to become verbally abusive towards the officer.

At that time a man driving an 18-wheel flatbed stopped because of the commotion, jumped out and disrupted Reyes's path, causing him to fall to the ground. A bag containing a white substance fell from Reyes's clothing, said police. Reyes fought the officer some more, and the officer sprayed him with pepper spray. The officer asked the truck driver to retrieve his police radio. The man gave the radio to the officer and he was then able to call for additional police presence.

The officer retrieved the bag which ended up containing cocaine. In total, the officer recovered 95 grams of the drug.

Reyes was charged with Failure to Provide a License Upon Request, Stop Sign Violation, Unlicensed Operation of a MV, Operating Without a Helmet, Operating Without Eye Protection, Disturbing the Peace, Disorderly Conduct, Resisting Arrest and Trafficking Class B Substance (37-99 grams).

Reyes will be arraigned at the Worcester County District Courthouse on Tuesday, Sept. 6.