By Jim Clark

A police officer assigned to a bicycle patrol and stationed alongside the Charter School on Webster Ave. last week reportedly observed a man on a bicycle run through a red light at the intersection of Washington St. and Webster.

Police reports indicate that many children cross at this intersection.

The officer then stepped into the roadway and signaled the cyclist to stop, but he did not, according to reports.

The officer reportedly had to place his body into the path of the oncoming cyclist in order to get him to stop.

When the officer asked the cyclist for his identification he was told by the man that he didn’t have any, police said.

As the officer wrote out a citation he reportedly asked the man, later identified as Matthew Szklarz, 28, for his name and was told that he did not have to give it to him.

When the officer advised Szklarz that he would be placed under arrest if he did not furnish his name, he reportedly responded by saying, “You can’t do that.”

The officer informed Szklarz that he could and would place him under arrest if he did not cooperate, at which time Szklarz reportedly crossed his arms and refused to respond.

Szklarz was placed under arrest and charged with a bicycle violation and refusal to identify himself. Szklarz’s bicycle was also taken to jail.