The alleged attacks are “going to be addressed,” police lieutenant says.
Several reports of battery by teens on e-bikes over the last weekend are being handled by San Diego police.
Between the evenings of Oct. 4 and Oct. 5, at least six people were hit by objects thrown by teens riding in groups on e-bikes through many La Jolla neighborhoods.
Lisa and Ben Arnold were walking their dogs on Avenida Cresta around 7 p.m. Oct. 4 when teens on five bikes came racing past. Ben “got hit with something” on the shoulder they later realized was a water balloon, Lisa said.
“It was a little shocking,” she said.
A short while later around 8:30 p.m., Karen Ventimiglia and her daughter were walking on Neptune Place south of Bonair Street.
“Six people on three e-bikes tore down Neptune Place at terrifying speeds,” she said. The bikers raced by once more “and hurled something that hit my daughter. It bounced into the ice plant.”
On Oct. 5, Chandler Oriente was walking at Scripps Park and was also hit by a water balloon. He said the group appeared to be “three kids on e-bikes.”
Around 8:30 p.m. Oct. 5, April Farrell was on Coast Boulevard near Cuvier Street and was “pegged by a giant water balloon on the head,” she wrote, noting the balloon caused a lot of pain.
And about 8:55 p.m. that night, another Bird Rock resident filed a police report that he was hit with a urine-filled water balloon at the corner of La Jolla Boulevard and Bird Rock Avenue.
San Diego police Lt. Bryan Brecht said he is gathering the reports and information on the attacks.
“It’s going to be addressed,” he said.
He said other reports over the weekend allege juveniles hurled other objects at victims including a metal flask.
The department will follow up with all reports, Brecht said, encouraging anyone else who was battered to come forward.
He said other reports over the weekend allege juveniles hurled other objects at victims including a metal flask.
The department will follow up with all reports, Brecht said, encouraging anyone else who was battered to come forward.
Given the time frame, the attacks are “definitely” the same group of youths, he said.
Arnold and many others took to the Nextdoor app to share concerns about what they said is an ongoing community with the same group of teens on e-bikes.
There are “lots of alarming posts on Nextdoor about” teens on e-bikes harassing pedestrians and drivers, Arnold said, noting there needs to be more parental oversight and responsibility.
And as several people stated, the group of bikers do not adhere to traffic laws and regulations, Arnold emphasized the imminent risk of injury to the teens or others.
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