Man arrested after riding a bicycle into traffic

Jon Johnson File Photo/Gila Herald

By Jon Johnson

jonjohnsonnews@gmail.com

SAFFORD – Robert Hernandez, 33, was arrested and booked into the Graham County Adult Detention Facility on Friday, Oct. 11, after allegedly riding his bicycle into oncoming traffic on U.S. Highway 70. 

According to a Safford Police report, an officer was at the intersection of 6th Avenue and U.S. Highway 70 at about 8 p.m. when the officer noticed Hernandez riding a bicycle. The officer reported Hernandez entered the westbound lanes of the highway and began to ride toward oncoming traffic. 

The officer advised that Hernandez swerved toward an oncoming car, which had to make an evasive maneuver to avoid striking him. 

Contributed Photo/Courtesy GCSO: Robert Hernandez

Hernandez then crossed the eastbound lanes and headed southbound on 5th Avenue. 

The officer initiated a traffic stop on 5th Avenue and reported that Hernandez acted in an aggressive manner toward him. The officer said Hernandez told him he rode his bicycle like that in an attempt to kill himself. 

After declining to speak with a crisis counselor, Hernandez was arrested for obstructing a highway and was transported to the jail. Once he was booked, a crisis counselor responded to the facility to speak with Hernandez and perform an evaluation.