**Lawsuit Filed After 12-Year-Old Injured in Collision with Palos Verdes Estates Police Cruiser**

LOS ANGELES — A lawsuit has been filed on behalf of a then-12-year-old boy who was injured when the electric bicycle he was riding struck a Palos Verdes Estates police cruiser that allegedly blocked his path as he fled in 2024.

The lawsuit, filed in the Los Angeles Superior Court, alleges negligence, civil rights violations, and assault and battery. The boy seeks unspecified damages and attorneys’ fees. A representative for the Palos Verdes Estates city attorney did not immediately respond to a request for comment regarding the suit, which was brought on December 24.

According to the complaint, the incident occurred around 3 p.m. on June 14, 2024, near Malaga Cove Plaza. The boy was riding his off-road e-bike along with other minors. The group had gathered near a mini-market when officers arrived—one on a motorcycle and another in a cruiser.

The suit states that the juveniles, concerned their bikes might be seized, dispersed in different directions, a reaction described as predictable and foreseeable among local youths familiar with the Palos Verdes Estates Police Department’s alleged impound practices.

The plaintiff and another boy rode down a narrow residential street toward the Frog Creek recreational trail, with the motorcycle officer in pursuit. As the boys neared the end of a cul-de-sac, the officer rode his motorcycle between them, then stopped and ordered the plaintiff to halt.

Frightened and believing he was about to be restrained, the boy panicked and began riding back toward the shopping center. At that moment, the officer in the cruiser abruptly turned and drove his patrol vehicle sideways across the roadway, blocking the boy’s path, the suit alleges.

The lightweight e-bike lacked the braking power and maneuverability to avoid the cruiser, resulting in a collision. The boy suffered a fractured right ankle, deep lacerations to his left leg, and additional physical and emotional injuries.

After the accident, the boy was transported to the police station where paramedics bandaged his injuries. The lawsuit further states that the bike was impounded and that felony citations were issued to both the plaintiff and one of his parents.

The boy’s family has been responsible for his medical expenses and will continue to face ongoing costs, the suit notes.
https://www.dailybreeze.com/2025/12/31/palos-verdes-estates-sued-over-reported-collision-between-police-vehicle-and-youth-fleeing-on-ebike/