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Shoppers at the National Mall in Washington D.C. dropped their bags as they jumped out of the way of a speeding Jeep. A driver went for a joy ride, doing donuts and kicking up dirt as he was chased by a police officer on a motorcycle. 

Jeep driver speeds through National Mall in D.C. 

Chaos erupted as a Jeep Patriot driver weaved around crowds at the National Mall in Washington D.C. Videos captured the black SUV speeding around the national park area. 

He was ripping through the manicured lawn and dirt walking paths that stretch from the U.S. Capital building to the Washington Monument Grounds. The driver also screamed obscenities at pedestrians. 

People dropped their shopping bags and jumped out of the way to avoid being hit by the SUV as it made abrupt U-turns and donuts. They were screaming and felt trapped but the circling vehicle. Then things escalated as a police officer used a motorcycle to chase the driver. 

According to USA Today, the driver finally left the mall and entered a public street. Then the driver was arrested by the U.S. Park Police. 

By some miracle, no one was injured. The area was crowded with several hundred adults and children due to summer events like the National Capital BBQ Battle and Smithsonian’s Solstice Saturday.

Pedestrians weren’t laughing as the Jeep driver, identified as 30-year-old Curtis Lear, claimed that his actions were just a joke. Lear was charged with assault with a dangerous weapon (his SUV), reckless driving, disorderly conduct, and fleeing law enforcement. 

Lear denies that he drove near the mall and wasn’t operating under the influence. He claims he only hit a few curbs.