CLEVELAND – Cuyahoga County Prosecutor Michael C. O’Malley announced that a Cuyahoga County grand jury has returned an indictment yesterday charging Jonathan Rivera-Ortiz, 28, Christine Vazquez, 28, and Luis Ortiz, 29, for illegally riding dirt bikes in Cleveland.

“These charges send a stern message that it is no longer business as usual for illegal dirt bike riders in Cleveland and Cuyahoga County. We commend the Cleveland Police Department, the Cuyahoga County Sheriff’s Office, and the Ohio State Highway Patrol’s collaborative effort to apprehend these individuals and help make our streets a safer place.”

Prosecutor Michael C. O’Malley

In May 2022, Jonathan Rivera-Ortiz orchestrated a large-scale illegal dirt bike ride in Cleveland. He advertised the ride on social media platforms to multiple cities and called for dirt bike / ATV riders to take over Cleveland and make it a “wheelie show.”

On May 21, 2022, Rivera-Ortiz and his passenger, Christine Vazquez, were recklessly operating a dirt bike in Cleveland. The Cleveland Division of Police (CPD) attempted to pull over Rivera-Ortiz near West 58th Street and Detroit Avenue in Cleveland and he continued to flee, reaching speeds over 80 mph. The pursuit ended near West 130th Street and Lorain Avenue in Cleveland. They were arrested on the scene.

On May 21, 2022, Luis Ortiz was recklessly operating a dirt bike near West 53rd Street and Lorain Avenue in Cleveland.  The CPD attempted to pull over Ortiz, who almost hit police vehicles and made an illegal U-turn. Ortiz fell off his dirt bike and was arrested on the scene.

The arrests were a result of Operation Wheels Down conducted by the CPD, the Cuyahoga County Sheriff’s Office, and the Ohio State Highway Patrol.

Jonathan Rivera-Ortiz and Christine Vazquez have been indicted on the following charges:

  • One count of Failure to Comply
  • One count of Aggravated Riot
  • One count of Inducing Panic

Luis Ortiz has been indicted on the following charges:

  • One count of Failure to Comply
  • One count of Aggravated Riot
  • One count of Inducing Panic