Raine Leard

Raine Leard

Brookfield police said they have identified the man on the pink dirt bike who led them on a chase throughout part of Masury on Oct. 28.

Raine Leard, 23, of Sharon, has been charged with fleeing police, reckless operation, running stop signs and riding an off-road vehicle on a roadway. Leard turned himself into Brookfield police on Nov. 5. He was taken to Trumbull County Jail, but posted bond the same day.

Leard also faces Hartford police charges of fleeing, reckless operation and riding an off-road vehicle on a roadway for an incident that occurred after Brookfield’s on the same day, and Sharon police charges of fleeing, running multiple stop signs, careless driving, reckless driving and driving an unregistered vehicle for an encounter Oct. 30.

In the Brookfield case, Leard was seen by police “popping a wheelie,” or riding with the front of tire(s) of the vehicle lifted off the ground, westbound on Addison Road, police said. Four other dirt bikes also drove past the policeman, but they were not driving recklessly, police said.

Police pursued the pink dirt bike on streets east and west of Brookfield Avenue until it drove into Sharon, police said.

Sharon police spotted the bike on Logan Avenue, but were unable to stop it, Brookfield police said.

Hermitage police reported a possible identity for the driver based on their investigation of a recent domestic incident. Brookfield police posted still images from video cameras that recorded parts of the pursuit, and multiple calls came in identifying Leard, police said.

Police said they also reviewed social media posts and old booking photos, and talked with Sharon policemen familiar with Leard, to confirm his identity.

Leard was arraigned on the Ohio charges Nov. 9 and faces a preliminary hearing Nov. 18.

promo