NEW ORLEANS — Louisiana State Troopers have issued dozens of arrest warrants across different states for people who participated in reckless driving of ATVs, motorcycles and dirt bikes, known as the 2018” New Orleans Bike Life Mardi Gras Day Ride Out.”
According to State Police, nearly 100 participants of “Ride Out” were identified. Nearly half of the people identified are from Louisiana and 35 arrest warrants have been issued for residents in-state, 12 of which are still outstanding.
The remainder of the arrest warrants were issued for 31 people across the following states: Alabama, Arizona, California, Florida, Georgia, Iowa, Indiana, Maryland, Michigan, Mississippi, Montana, Nebraska, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Texas and the District of Columbia.
The majority of the criminal charges they face include felony aggravated obstruction of highway of commerce, reckless operation, and simple obstruction of a highway.
The “Ride Out” lasted nearly eight hours in different areas of the city on Mardi Gras Day 2018. The group organized a complete shutdown of I-10 west over Orleans Avenue and a second complete shutdown over Conti Street. The participants rode around the city, intimidating law-abiding motorists, recklessly operating their vehicles, disrupting traffic and on several occasions, they evaded police. Some of the individuals assaulted officers while making lawful arrests, State Police say.
Before the “Ride Out,” State Troopers stopped several riders and many of the bikes stopped were previously reported stolen from commercial dealerships in “smash and grab” burglaries across several parishes. Between March-May 2018, six additional burglaries of commercial dealerships occurred, three of which were in Louisiana, one in Mobile, one in Austin and one in Ocean Springs, according to LSP.
One of the suspects arrested for possession of a stolen vehicle was identified as 22-year-old Jerrell Maxon Jr. of New Orleans. Maxon is suspected of being one of the group’s leaders committing the burglaries in Louisiana and Mississippi. In May 2018, Maxon was indicted from criminal street gangs and patterns of criminal street gang activity charges. Six others were also arrested during that time, according to LSP.