NEWPORT BEACH, CA — A boy was arrested after he fled from police on an illegal e-motorcycle, and his mother now faces additional charges, police said Thursday.
The incident happened on May 9 at 6:15 p.m., when Newport Beach motor officers tried to stop a boy riding a Surron e-motorcycle.
The boy immediately sped away from officers at a "high rate of speed, into opposing traffic and across an intersection against a red light," the Newport Beach Police Department said in a statement.
Based on the reckless riding, police did not pursue the young motorcyclist.
Investigating officers reviewing the incident later recognized the suspect as a minor, only described as a "juvenile male."
Investigators found that the boy had prior contacts involving e-motorcycles, and a search warrant was executed at his home.
He was arrested without incident and booked at the NBPD Juvenile Jail on felony charges before being released to his parents.
"Based on the documented history with the subject and his parents, the mother will be referred to the Orange County District Attorney's Office for additional charges," the NBPD said. "NBPD will conduct follow-up, search warrants, make arrests and seek charges against those involved and the parents of those involved in these types of incidents."
This is not the first time a child's parent has been charged in circumstances involving illegal e-motorcycles, marking a growing shift in how these types of cases are handled in the courts.
An Orange County case reagrding a 14-year-old boy accused of crashing an e-motorcycle into an 81-year-old veteran, killing him, drew regional attention earlier this month.
The boy's mother, Tommi Mejer, faces involuntary manslaughter and other charges for allowing her son to ride the bike despite warnings from the Orange County Sheriff's Department, according to the Orange County District Attorney's Office.
Mejer faces a maximum sentence of seven years and eight months in state prison if convicted on all counts.
In March, an Orange County father was charged after his 12-year-old son was critically injured while illegally riding an e-motorcycle that he and his dad had unlawfully modified.
Richard John Eyssallenne, 39, pleaded not guilty March 3 to one felony count of child endangerment and abuse and one misdemeanor count of contributing to the delinquency of a minor.
He faces a maximum of six years in state prison if convicted.
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