Six juveniles were taken into custody Thursday afternoon after police say they were riding electric bikes recklessly through McCordsville.
According to the McCordsville Police Department, police were dispatched to the area of County Road 600 West and County Road 900 North about 4:45 p.m. on March 5 after getting multiple reports of a large group of juveniles riding electric bikes on the road. Callers stated that the group was doing wheelies, passing vehicles on the shoulder, and disobeying traffic signals.
According to police, an officer discovered the gang as they went westbound onto U.S. 36. The officer reportedly observed the youths riding over multiple lanes of traffic, with at least one rider performing a wheelie while passing cars. Authorities believed that the group was traveling at speeds of around 40 mph.
The officer activated the emergency lights and siren and gave verbal directions over a loudspeaker, but the riders continued westbound and refused to halt. Officers noted that the gang was weaving between lanes, impeding traffic and posing a severe safety risk to themselves and other cars.
According to police, the gang drove for about a third of a mile and reportedly passed a car in oncoming traffic before turning into the parking lot of the Meijer store at 6939 W. Broadway. The riders then continued on and off the road, past the parking lot and onto Carroll Road.
The pursuit was eventually called off out of caution, while officers from other agencies searched the area for the suspects.
Authorities stated six youths aged 13 to 17 were subsequently apprehended without incident.