CA teen accused of taunting cops with e-bike wheelies, using laser on kid’s eye
A 13-year-old Winters resident who allegedly rode an illegal e-motorcycle, fled from officers on several occasions and assaulted a fellow student with a laser pointer was arrested, the Winters Police Department announced.
The teen was arrested and booked at Yolo County Juvenile Hall on suspicion of misdemeanor reckless driving, felony evasion and misdemeanor laser-related charges on Wednesday, officers said in a social media post.
According to the department, the teen allegedly operated an e-motorcycle and fled from officers several times over the last few weeks. In California, riders must possess a driver’s license with M1/M2 endorsement to legally operate an e-motorcycle.
Police said the juvenile’s e-motorcycle could accelerate from zero to 31 mph in 2.7 seconds and reach speeds of up to 49 mph.
In one cited incident, officers said the teenager rode past an officer conducting a traffic stop and chose to allegedly “mouth off” to the officer and “pop a wheelie” before speeding away.
Investigators gathered information from several sources to identify the Winters juvenile and arranged to contact his parents to make the arrest and seize his e-motorcycle on the evening of May 27, the department said.
According to officers, earlier that day and unrelated to the e-motorcycle investigation, the family of a student at Winters Middle School contacted police seeking to press charges after the 13-year-old allegedly pointed a laser into their child’s eyes, causing eye pain and a migraine.
Officers contacted the teen and his parents later Wednesday evening and took the child into custody. Police said his parents were cooperative and that e-motorcycle, which had been taken to a bike repair shop, would be taken from the boy, “selling it immediately.”
“The Winters Police Department, local officials, and the Winters Joint Unified School District are imploring parents to be aware of the legality of the devices they are purchasing and providing to their children,” the statement read. “This includes e-scooters!!! THESE DEVICES ARE NOT TOYS!!!”
The department referenced recent e-motorcycle incidents in California. In Orange County, the parent of a 14-year-old who allegedly struck and killed an elderly man while riding the same type of e-motorcycle as the Winters juvenile was charged with involuntary manslaughter. In Solano County, the parents of a 17-year-old who crashed an e-motorcycle were charged with child abuse after he suffered catastrophic injuries, according to Winters police.
More locally, last week, Davis police determined that a teenager riding a Class 2 e-bike was not at fault after a collision killed a 60-year-old Sutter Health nurse.
