Photo credit Ventura County District Attorney Office.

Photo credit Ventura County District Attorney Office.

VENTURA Calif. – Ventura County District Attorney Erik Nasarenko announced today that the District Attorney’s Office has filed a juvenile petition alleging eight counts against a minor who allegedly led Ventura Police officers on a dangerous pursuit through city streets, onto State Route 126, and across the Buena High School campus while riding a e-motorcycle. The petition charges the juvenile with two felony counts of evading a peace officer and evading a peace officer while driving the wrong way, two misdemeanor counts of reckless driving and operating a motorcycle without a valid license, and four infractions for driving the wrong way on a divided roadway, failing to wear a helmet, operating an unregistered vehicle, and driving without insurance.
On June 10, 2026, the Ventura Police Department conducted an organized e-bike enforcement operation at Ventura Community Park after receiving over 100 calls for service in 2026 involving juveniles riding electric bikes and electric motorcycles in an unsafe manner.
Unlike electric bicycles, electric motorcycles are subject to the same laws as traditional motorcycles, including licensing, registration, insurance, and helmet requirements. They are not permitted to be ridden on park property or other areas where off-highway vehicle use is prohibited.
During the operation, officers observed the juvenile riding an e-motorcycle on the park grass. When an officer attempted to conduct an enforcement stop, the juvenile allegedly fled northbound on Kimball Road.
The juvenile is accused of driving northbound in the southbound lanes of Kimball Road while weaving through traffic before riding the wrong way onto the northbound State Route 126 off-ramp. The juvenile then allegedly entered the westbound State Route 126 on-ramp and traveled at freeway speeds before exiting at Victoria Avenue.
The juvenile allegedly failed to stop at the Victoria Avenue off-ramp stop sign, drove northbound in the southbound lanes of Victoria Avenue, and entered the Buena High School campus. Officers later located the abandoned e-motorcycle in the alley of a nearby neighborhood.
As officers investigated, the juvenile and the juvenile’s stepfather arrived at the scene. The juvenile was cited and released pending juvenile court proceedings. The e-motorcycle was impounded.
The minor is scheduled to be arraigned at the Juvenile Justice Center on July 20, 2026.
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Contact: Joey Buttitta
Title: Communications Manager/PIO
Phone: (805) 767-3400
Email: Joey.Buttitta@venturacounty.gov
Approved: SW
Date: July 7, 2026
Release No.: 26-089