Daredevil Dirt Biker Nearly Hit 4 People, Police Say

A Bethlehem man is facing multiple charges after allegedly eluding police on his dirt bike on a daredevil run through a parking lot, down a staircase and over sidewalks – nearly striking four pedestrians walking in the South Bethlehem Greenway, according to court papers.

Edwin Santodomingo-Rosado, 22, of 1832 Lynfield Drive, was able to avoid capture by the Bethlehem Police Department on July 31. But on Thursday, he was captured, arraigned before night duty District Judge James Narlesky and committed to Northampton County Prison in lieu of $7,500 bail.

According to the arrest affidavit:

• Officer Matthew Laxton was on patrol on E. Third Street at Hill Street when he observed Santodomingo-Rosado operating an unregistered blue dirt bike traveling east on E. Third.
• Laxton attempted to make a traffic stop by turning on emergency lights and siren, but Santodomingo-Rosado did not comply, fleeing at a “high rate of speed.”
• “It should be noted that the defendant was wearing glasses [prescription style] and looked at me several times,” Laxton wrote. “The defendant drove through several posted stop signs without stopping, almost striking an occupied vehicle at E. Third Street and Hobart Street.”
• Santodomingo-Rosado rode through the parking lot at the PNC Bank at Hayes and Evans streets, drove down the staircase at the north side of the lot and kept going “at a high rate of speed” east on the South Bethlehem Greenway.
• Santodomingo-Rosado nearly struck four pedestrians who were walking in the Greenway. All moved to avoid being hit. Santodomingo-Rosado was last seen entering the Lynfield Housing area.

An anonymous tip led police to Santodomingo-Rosado, who was charged with fleeing or attempting to elude a police officer, a felony; recklessly endangering another person, a misdemeanor; and summary driving offenses, reckless driving, failing to stop at stop signs, driving on the sidewalk, failure to have registration and title, failure to have insurance and failure to have the proper class of license to ride a motorcycle.