Pittsburgh police announce charges against 4 in connection with ATV, dirt bike 'ride-outs'

Pittsburgh police this week made their first arrests in connection with dozens of “ride-outs” across the city – groups riding off-road and all-terrain vehicles dangerously and haphazardly through city neighborhoods and parks.

Pittsburgh and several other law enforcement agencies formed a taskforce last month in response to the issue, which authorities said was becoming worse and causing a growing danger.

On Friday, police announced the first arrests which, according to criminal complaints, came from evidence obtained via numerous videos of the flash mob-type stunts.

Austin Ross, 22, of Oakmont, is charged with reckless endangerment, disorderly conduct, two counts of riot and reckless driving. Ross also has at least four traffic cases pending against him.

Zyshow Tot, 23, of McKees Rocks, is charged with reckless endangerment, possession of an instrument of crime, two counts of riot and reckless driving.

Corey Doubt, 36, of Pittsburgh, is charged with reckless endangerment, disorderly conduct, possession of an instrument of crime, two counts of riot, and traffic violations including going through a red light and riding on roads laned for traffic.

Johnnie Burton, 37, of McKeesport, is charged with child endangerment, conspiracy, possession of an instrument of crime, two counts of riot and driving with a suspended license.

According to the criminal complaint for Burton, he’s seen on “numerous videos” from May 31 “riding his quad illegally” throughout the city with other dirt bikes and quads, “weaving through traffic and in the opposite lanes.”

Investigators said he’s also seen with two children, a boy and a girl, on dirt bikes. “He appears to be encouraging/enabling them to ride illegally through the city,” police wrote. Police noted they saw Burton and others in Highland Park, doing donuts and driving into oncoming traffic.

Multiple compilation videos of the so-called ride-outs have been posed to YouTube. It was not clear whether any of those videos were used by police in identifying participants.

One YouTube video titled “Pittsburgh Bike Life | Halloween Ride Out Recap 2020” shows dozens of people on dirt bikes, ATVs, some dune buggy-type vehicles and more riding throughout the city, often in the wrong lanes or on highways. Several clips show them surrounding vehicles on the roadway and, in one, a Pittsburgh police officer attempts to pull one over on one of the sister bridges between Downtown and the North Shore.

In another clip, a man performs a wheelie while standing on the back of his ATV on one leg – on what appears to be a highway.

Another video, “2020 1^st Annual Pittsburgh Rideout,” includes what appears to be a crash on a highway. Dozens of riders stop along the roadway, which does not appear to have a shoulder, and block traffic. A note in the video indicates the man who crashed was not “seriously injured.”

Doubt, Tot and Austin all were released on their own recognizance on Thursday or Friday. Burton was released after posting 10% of his $5,000 bail. His preliminary hearing is scheduled for Sept. 8. Preliminary hearings for the other three are set for Sept. 15. None of the men had attorneys listed in their court records as of Friday afternoon.