Vancouver police charge man after e-scooter officer assault; two youths arrested

A man has been charged and two youths arrested after separate incidents in which riders tried to flee Vancouver police on e-dirt bikes and an e-scooter, the Vancouver Police Department said in a release published Oct. 6.¹

In the latest incident, an officer was knocked to the ground by a man riding an e-scooter in the Downtown Eastside shortly after 1:00 a.m. that day, according to the department. The officer had tried to stop the rider for a traffic offence in the 400-block of Carrall Street. Officers caught up with the man and arrested him.¹

The rider was allegedly carrying two kilograms of suspected fentanyl, crack cocaine and methamphetamine, police said. Charges of assaulting a police officer and obstruction have been forwarded to Crown counsel, and a drug trafficking investigation remains ongoing.¹

Two youths arrested after July incident

Two youths were arrested the day before the release following a months-long investigation that began with an incident in July, police said. On July 9, three youths were seen riding e-dirt bikes dangerously in downtown Vancouver, travelling in the Dunsmuir Street bike lane and running red and yellow lights.¹

When officers tried to stop them, all three fled eastbound on Pender Street at speeds of about 80 km/h, according to the department. Officers later found two of the youths riding near the Vancouver Convention Centre, where they were stopped and detained. The youths were 14 and 16 years old at the time and were later released into the custody of their parents.¹

Police seized the e-dirt bikes and a GoPro camera, then continued the investigation by collecting CCTV footage and obtaining a search warrant to examine the GoPro. Both youths have been charged with one count each of dangerous operation of a motor vehicle and flight from police. They were arrested after warrants were issued following charge approval.¹

Both youths involved in this investigation have had previous contact with police for similar behaviour. One was stopped for riding on Highway 99, and the other was stopped downtown and ticketed for operating without insurance. These e-dirt bikes are not intended for use on public roads.¹Sergeant Adam Donaldson of the Vancouver Police Department