A video that went viral Saturday night shows young boys racing dirt bikes inside a California shopping mall. No arrests have been made in the case, despite the release of video showing the suspect. Police are investigating whether this incident is related to a fatal accident that occurred nearby.
Santa Clarita Valley Signal reported The boys were reportedly riding dirt bikes inside the Valencia Town Center mall, about 55 miles northwest of Los Angeles.
“People are there for the shopping experience. They're not expecting bikes to pass right in front of them.”
The Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff's Department dispatched officers to the mall at 9:22 p.m. after a woman reported being hit by one of the dirt bike riders. Sergeant Jerome Gage said, “She was attacked by… [the dirt bikes] as she was walking to her car. ”
When investigators arrived at the mall, they were unable to locate the alleged victim, so no charges or arrests were made.
Sergeant Gage confirmed that an Instagram video has been circulating showing dirt bike riders racing in Valencia town centre. The video racked up tens of thousands of views in just a few days.
The video shows three boys riding dirt bikes near the mall's food court.
said Chris Hernandez, the mall's restaurant manager. KTLA“It was noisy. I could see the bikes coming up the mall.”
“To me, that's a no-no, because there are little kids everywhere and somebody's going to get hurt,” Hernandez added.
Another mall employee said this is not the first time dirt bike riders have ridden through Valencia Town Center.
Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff's Department Sergeant Guillermo Martinez said the three suspects could face felony charges if arrested.
“People are coming there for the shopping experience. They're not going to expect bikes to ride right in front of them,” Martinez told KTLA. “It can pose a serious danger, a threat of injury, not only to the motorcycle rider, but also to them.”
Police are investigating whether the suspects are connected to a fatal accident that occurred nearby.
On Saturday at 9:49 p.m., sheriff's deputies were called to a vehicle crash just two miles from the mall.
Police say a 14-year-old boy riding a dirt bike collided head-on with a van at an intersection.
Deputy Robert Jensen — Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff's Department Spokesperson — said A child was thrown from a dirt bike at a Santa Clarita Valley traffic light, then was struck and pinned under another vehicle.
Officers rescued the boy, and the Los Angeles County Fire Department treated him at the scene.
The minor was rushed to Henry Mayo Newhall Hospital where he was listed in critical condition. However, the boy succumbed to his injuries at the hospital and was pronounced dead at 7:32 a.m. Sunday.
Jensen said the sheriff's office is investigating whether the boy who died was one of the passengers in the viral video shot inside the mall. He added that the dirt bike involved in the fatal crash was not road legal.
Sergeant Martinez said police will increase patrols around the mall following the two incidents.
“We're going to go out there and take a zero-tolerance approach,” said Sgt. Martinez declared. “If we find them, we will either arrest them, confiscate them, arrest them, or detain them depending on the situation, and we are stepping up enforcement efforts.”
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