The mother of a 13-year-old boy who was forcibly knocked off his e-bike by undercover police officers in an unmarked car has criticized the police for their actions.
Junior Moran, 13, was involved in a collision while returning home from MMA training on Tuesday, January 13. Surveillance footage of the incident, captured from a residence on Hilton Lane in Little Hulton, Salford, has recently emerged.
In the video, Junior is shown being struck off his e-bike. Subsequently, a police officer approaches him before he attempts to flee. An unmarked vehicle from Greater Manchester Police (GMP) then drives towards him, causing him to fall onto the pavement.
Despite initially being detained, the teenager can be heard pleading with the officers, stating that he had not committed any offense. The Manchester Evening News reported that the officers released him a few minutes later.
Junior’s mother, Jayne, expressed that the officers left her son disoriented and unsteady after the collision, describing the incident as traumatic for him. She has filed a formal complaint against the police force.
According to Jayne, her son was unaware that the individuals were police officers; otherwise, he would have cooperated with them. GMP stated that Junior’s e-bike was deemed illegal and a decision was made for one officer to make physical contact while another officer detained the teenager.
The Professional Standards Directorate of the force is currently investigating the incident and the accompanying video footage.
Jayne, speaking to a local publication, expressed disbelief over the events, highlighting her son’s dedication and innocence. She recounted the distressing phone call she received from Junior following the incident, detailing his disorientation and concussion.
GMP clarified that Junior was not arrested following the incident but mentioned that the type of e-bike he was riding was illegal and subsequently confiscated due to lacking insurance coverage. The family received a visit from a superintendent at the hospital, who issued an apology.
The police spokesperson stated that an evaluation is being conducted on the use of tactical contact in the case of the teenager riding the illegal e-bike in Salford. Operations Venture officers had previously observed the e-bike in Little Hulton before the incident occurred.
The spokesperson emphasized the importance of comprehending the full context of the situation, highlighting that tactical contact is employed by trained officers to safely apprehend suspects. The driving officer’s authority has been suspended pending further investigation by the Professional Standards Directorate.