Since November of 2024, the Attleboro Police Department has responded to approximately 143 calls for service and complaints of juvenile e-bike riders operating in a dangerous and reckless manner. In May of 2026, there were 27 incidents involving this kind of conduct alone.
Most of this activity has been instances of reckless riding, such as playing “chicken” with motorists, popping wheelies in opposing lanes, and riding in-and-out of traffic, states a release.
The riders also engage in conduct in which they try to provoke operators of motor vehicles on city streets into physical altercations, as well as attempting to provoke the police into engaging in dangerous pursuits, said officials.
The stunts are often video recorded by the riders with the intent of sharing within their social media groups.
On Tuesday, June 2, at around 8 p.m., an Attleboro officer was on patrol in a marked police vehicle on Union Street when a rider on an e-bike intentionally entered the lane of travel of the police vehicle, driving directly toward the cruiser.
To avoid a head-on collision with the rider, the officer had to come to a complete stop in traffic, at which point the rider at the last minute steered away from the cruiser, narrowly avoiding a collision. As the rider passed, it was obvious that he was holding a phone or similar recording device to record the stunt.
The officer attempted to stop the rider nearby on Pine Street as a result of the dangerous conduct, at which point the e-bike sped away at a high rate of speed. As the officer followed, at one point the rider came to a compete stop and began screaming profanities at the officer in an obvious attempt to provoke the officer to pursue, said police.
“While stopped, the rider continued for an extended period of time to attempt to provoke the officer into a pursuit, which is dangerous not only for the rider, but the officer and the public in general,” they said.
The officer attempted to de-escalate and engage with the rider during his apparent tirade, and while doing so, other officers were able to approach the rider, as the rider’s attention was focused on the initial responding officer.
A detective was then able to grab the rider by the arm to take him into custody. The rider, in an attempt to escape, then tried to accelerate the e-bike from a complete stop. This effort failed, and as a result, the rider lost his balance and fell off the e-bike.
The rider then “spewed a torrent of obscenities” at the officers while being secured in handcuffs, creating more of a disturbance, said police.
Once in custody, the rider initially refused to identify himself. Ultimately, he was identified as a 16-year-old male city resident. The teen’s mother responded directly to the scene, at which point a citation was issued for the vehicular offenses. The juvenile was then released to his mother, and is being summoned to juvenile court for the charges of assault and battery by means of a dangerous weapon, negligent operation of a motor vehicle, resisting arrest, disorderly conduct, and disturbing the peace.
The juvenile’s e-bike was seized as evidence.
The following evening, June 3, at around 9 p.m., a detective observed two subjects loitering near the Police Department’s fenced-in outdoor storage area, which is used to house large items, such as bicycles and e-bikes when they are seized as evidence or otherwise come into the possession of the Police Department.
Both subjects were dressed in all black, and wearing black face masks. As the officer observed the two, one was clearly acting as a lookout, while the other one was poised by the fence. After some time observing the two and overhearing statements made between the two, police said it was obvious that they were trying to break into the fenced in area.
Multiple officers then responded to the scene, at which point both subjects fled on foot in different directions. One suspect, a 17-year-old male Attleboro resident, was then located a short distance away, still on foot, where he was placed under arrest.
Officers were able to locate the other suspect at his home, after having been picked up by his father on Park Street at the intersection with Pine Street. The second suspect, a 16-year-old male Attleboro resident, was then placed under arrest as well.
They were both charged with attempted breaking and entering in the nighttime and tampering with an object for use in an official procedure. After being booked, both juveniles were released to the custody of their parents.
Both suspects attempting to break in to the outdoor storage area are known associates of the 16-year-old involved in the previous night’s e-bike incident. Based on information gathered to this point, said police, it is believed that the two suspects were trying to break into the storage area to steal their associate’s e-bike
