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Sheriff's office briefs council on large reckless e-bike gathering, prosecution planned
Summary
Sheriff's office described a recent mass juvenile e-bike riding incident in Riverbank that involved stunts and alleged intentional swerving at vehicles; deputies said they identified riders via social media analysis and plan to present a vandalism case to the district attorney. Council took no formal action and scheduled a workshop.
The sheriff's office told the Riverbank City Council it responded to a large, organized group of juvenile riders who blocked streets and performed dangerous stunts, and said it will seek prosecution in at least one vandalism case.
"They did locate these riders, about 30 of them at this point," the sheriff's office representative said, describing initial reports that ranged higher and the deputies' decision-making around pursuit and public safety. The representative said deputies found riders near Patterson and Oakdale Roads and later learned from social-media videos that some participants intentionally swerved at parked cars.
The presentation traced how deputies identified participants through a crime-analyst unit that monitors social platforms and compiles tips, and said the office is coordinating with neighboring jurisdictions where similar groups operate. "We are working with our district attorney's office on that, and they are willing to prosecute in that case," the sheriff's office representative said.
Mayor (speaker 1) made clear the session was informational and that no ordinance vote would occur at the meeting: "So no formal action will be taken today. This is purely informational." The council scheduled a workshop for a later discussion on a potential ordinance to assist enforcement.
The sheriff's office emphasized safety and evidence collection over high-speed pursuits when group riders disperse, and said deputies used measures such as unmarked vehicles, drones and detectives when possible to identify individuals for follow-up. The office reported it had previously issued citations and impounded bicycles where ordinances allowed in neighboring cities and intends similar multi-agency responses when groups return to Riverbank.
