Dash cam police footage out of New Haven, CT is stirring up controversy online after a policeman swerved his cruiser in front of an oncoming ATV, which resulted in a collision and serious injuries of the rider.

The officer was responding to a call of illegal riding of a motorized vehicle on a path dedicated to talking and bicycling. Seconds after passing multiple pedestrians and bikers, the ATV comes flying toward the officer. He turns his vehicle across the lane to protect the people only feet behind him.

The rider tries locking up the breaks, slides sideways, and rolls the quad. He is launched from the ATV and into the windshield of the cop car. The rider was taken to the hospital for serious injuries.

Many social media users suggested the cop's actions were unnecessary, but he probably actually saved the lives of those people. If that rider wasn't able to see and slow for the approaching officer in time, he likely wouldn't have seen the pedestrians at all until it was too late.

The video brings to mind one of my favorite phrases: Go be stupid somewhere else.

About the Author

Will Killmore

Will Killmore is a US Army combat infantry veteran and Purple Heart recipient. He has deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan with the 172nd Stryker Brigade and 173rd Airborne Brigade. Following his time in service, he successfully pursued a certificate of journalism and has been a blogger for Funker530 since 2014. Follow Will’s bad takes on Twitter