‘A brave man': Resident stops dirt biker from fleeing after striking officer

A Philadelphia police officer suffered injuries after a young man operating an illegal dirt bike collided with him at a Northeast Philadelphia intersection Wednesday night.

A neighbor jumped into action to help just after 9:30 p.m. on Nov. 6, 2024, after a Philadelphia police highway patrol sergeant on a motorcycle was traveling west on Stanwood Street in the Holmesburg neighborhood when he collided with an illegal dirt bike at the intersection of Stanwood and Leon streets, Police Inspector Scott Small said.

Léelo en español aquí.

Small said, according to witnesses, the man on the dirt bike was going north on Leon at a high rate of speed and ran through a stop sign, striking the highway patrol sergeant on the left side.

Both drivers fell off their respective bikes in the collision.

The highway sergeant sustained injures to his left ankle and left side. He was transported to the hospital to be treated, Small said.

The operator of the dirt bike was not injured, but was taken to the hospital since he was involved in a crash, Small said.

'Brave' neighbor helps stop dirt biker from fleeing, police say

The crash left the officer "shaken up" on the street, Small said.

Neighbor Anthony Wade came out of his house to check on the injured officer and the dirt bike rider, Small said.

"I ran across the street," Wade said, to check on the motorcyclists.

The dirt biker rider then got back onto his bike, investigators said.

"He saw the 22-year-old operator of the dirt bike get up and attempt to start the dirt bike in an attempt to get away," Small said. "That's when a (neighbor) intervened and was able to stop the 22-year-old from fleeing the scene."

The neighbor struggled to hold onto the dirt biker who was "clearly trying to get away," Small said.

Wade said he was able to "rip him off the bike" during the tussle.

The highway sergeant was able to get up and helped to subdue the dirt bike rider until other officers arrived.

"The neighbor did a great job, clearly a brave man," Small said.

Wade said he never thought twice about helping out.

"Just doing my part, that's all," a humble Wade said. "I'm one of those neighbors -- that you know -- if you need help, I'm there."

Small said the dirt bike is not street legal. It had no license plate, no front or rear lights and no turn signals. The dirt bike was confiscated by police.

"This is made for a dirt track, a racing bike, it is not meant to be driven on the highway," Small said.

The 22-year-old suspect was not cooperating with the police and refused to give his name. Small said he only gave his date of birth, which is how police learned how old he is.

In addition to the witnesses, Small said there are private surveillance cameras in the area that they hope captured the crash and scuffle.

This investigation continued through the night.