Teen, Southington Cop Scuffle After E-Bike Incident
By: -----
Southington, CT - The Southington Police Department is warning residents about a rise in unsafe e-bike use among juveniles, citing what officials describe as an “escalating issue” involving dangerous riding and failure to comply with officers.
In a public statement released Tuesday, the department said incidents involving young e-bike riders have increased in recent years, raising safety concerns for both riders and the public.
“The dangerous operation of e-bikes by juveniles and a concerning lack of compliance with officers have increased over the last few years,” the department said.
Police emphasized that ignoring traffic laws or refusing to stop when directed by officers creates a significant risk.
“Ignoring safety laws or refusing to stop for police puts everyone, especially the riders themselves, at severe risk,” the statement said.
As part of its outreach, the department released dashcam footage showing an encounter between an officer and a teenage e-bike rider that escalated into a physical struggle in the middle of a busy Southington roadway.
Officials said the video underscores the urgency of the issue and the need for greater awareness among families.