Man charged and two youths arrested after e-bike and e-scooter riders allegedly flee Vancouver police

Vancouver police say one man has been charged and two youths arrested after separate incidents in which riders tried to get away from police on an e-scooter and e-dirt bikes.

In the latest incident, an officer was knocked to the ground by a man riding an e-scooter in the Downtown Eastside. Shortly after 1 a.m. today, the officer tried to stop the rider for a traffic offence in the 400-block of Carrall Street. Other officers caught up with the man and arrested him. Police allege he was carrying two kilograms of suspected fentanyl, crack cocaine and methamphetamine. Charges of assaulting a police officer and obstruction have been forwarded to Crown counsel for consideration. A drug-trafficking investigation is continuing.

Two youths were arrested yesterday after a months-long investigation into an incident in July. On July 9, police saw three youths riding e-dirt bikes dangerously in downtown Vancouver, using the Dunsmuir Street bike lane and running red and yellow lights. When officers tried to stop them, all three fled east on Pender Street at about 80 km/h.

Police later found two of the youths riding near the Vancouver Convention Centre, stopped them and detained them. They were 14 and 16 at the time and were later released into their parents’ custody. Police seized the e-dirt bikes and a GoPro camera, then gathered CCTV footage and obtained a search warrant to examine the GoPro as the investigation continued.

Vancouver Police Department Sgt. Adam Donaldson said both youths had previous police contact for similar behaviour. One had been stopped while riding on Highway 99; the other had been stopped downtown and ticketed for operating without insurance. Donaldson said the e-dirt bikes are not intended for use on public roads.

Each youth faces one count of dangerous operation of a motor vehicle and one count of flight from police. They were arrested yesterday after charges were approved and warrants issued.