Bicyclist event turns abusive

A monthly organized bike ride in Ogden turned abusive Friday when bicyclers heckled a motorist, attempted to control traffic and evaded arrest, police said.

Critical Mass is a monthly bicycling event sponsored by local bicycling groups that's meant to raise awareness about bicyclists on the roadway, said Ogden Police Lt. Scott Conley. Friday's event, which police estimate had up to 40 participants, first turned sour when the cyclists surrounded a motorist at the stoplight at 23rd and Grant Street.

Conley said the bicyclists failed to move when the light turned green and so a female motorist at the light honked her horn.

"Someone yelled obscenities at her and then someone else threw a large 32-ounce drink at her vehicle," Conley said. "The drink entered the interior portion of the vehicle and struck her in the face."

Police said the woman then went to call police and, as she dialed, rolled forward and hit one of the bikers, denting a fender and rim. When police arrived, the bikers wanted the woman arrested for aggravated assault with a vehicle, but officers said the incident didn't warrant an arrest.

Not long after, a Utah Highway Patrol trooper and a Weber County sheriff's deputy heard something over their radios about a large group of bikers, which they thought were motorcyclists. As they went to investigate, they came across two bicyclists blocking the 34th Street intersection, attempting to direct traffic and reunite their group.

"They were parked in the middle of the roadway holding traffic while allowing some stragglers of their group to catch up," Conley said "They were basically taking control of the intersection in an attempt to keep their group together, which is illegal."

Conley said the two officers tried to talk to the two bicyclists, but one fled. The deputy pursued the man in his vehicle and turned on his lights to pull the man over. The man continued on, riding around the deputy when he was cut off. The officer pursued the man on foot, pulled him from his bike and took him into custody. At this point, police said, the rest of the bicycling group returned and surrounded the officer, who called for backup.

"He said one rider grabbed for his duty belt and the group then became loud and abusive and disruptive," Conley said. "The officer described it as 'total chaos.' "

Police ultimately arrested three men and one woman for investigation of failure to disperse, disorderly conduct, public intoxication, unsafe lane travel, improper usage of lanes and avoiding apprehension.

Conley said he doesn't question the legitimacy of Critical Mass or its cause, but participants need to be aware of the law.

"Ogden is a bike friendly place," he said. "We're an outdoor mecca. We want that kind of activity, but bicyclists need to follow rules and regulations, just like everybody else."

e-mail: emorgan@desnews.com