Moment boy, 13, knocked off e-bike by unmarked police automotive as mum says he is ‘traumatised’

CCTV footage of the incident involving Junior Moran, 13, appers to show the teenager being sent over the bonnet of an unmarked police car in Little Hulton, Salford

A mother has criticised the police after her teenage son was allegedly knocked off his e-bike by officers in an unmarked car. CCTV footage of the incident involving 13 year old Junior Moran emerged following the event on Tuesday (January 13).

The video, shared with the Manchester Evening News, was captured from a residence on Hilton Lane in Little Hulton, Salford. It depicts Junior being toppled from his e-bike while returning home from MMA training.

A police officer is then seen approaching him before he attempts to ride away. An unmarked GMP vehicle is subsequently driven towards him, causing him to be thrown over the bonnet and onto the pavement.

The teenager, who was initially apprehended, can be heard pleading with the officers, stating: “I’ve not done nowt.” He was released a few minutes later, reports the Manchester Evening News.

Junior’s mum Jayne has since lashed out at Greater Manchester Police and lodged a formal complaint, alleging that the officers left her teenage son ‘stumbling and dizzy’ after the collision and that the incident has left him ‘traumatised’. She added that her son was unaware that the men were police officers or ‘he would’ve spoken to them and gone over’.

GMP stated that the e-bike Junior was riding was illegal and that a ‘decision was made for one officer to make tactical contact while a second officer on foot detained the teenager’.

The force’s Professional Standards Directorate is currently examining the incident and the footage.

Jayne stated her son, who has ‘never been in trouble in his life’, was mistakenly targeted whilst simply returning home from his martial arts session which he attends ‘religiously’ four days a week.

“I cannot believe any of this has happened,” Jayne told the Manchester Evening News.

“He is such a dedicated young boy and was coming back from boxing club on his bike. I called him before and he said he’d see me at home and was stopping at his dad’s on the way back.

“The next minute I get this phone call from him screaming and all this commotion. I have never heard anything like it in my life. He was shaking and had concussion. He was stumbling and dazed after it all happened.

“I calmed him down and at first thought he had been robbed. He told me he had seen the car eye-balling him and felt uncomfortable. He stopped to let it go past, and as he did this officer jumps out on him with no identification because he was undercover.

“Junior didn’t know who he was and was terrified. You see him stop on the video before he gets back on his bike. He went into panic mode and tried to get away because he was scared. Then the car drives into him and he’s rammed of the road and flies over onto the other side.”

GMP stated that officers from Operation Venture had spotted an e-bike being ridden in Little Hulton earlier in the evening, leading to a decision for one officer to make ‘tactical contact’, while another remained on foot to apprehend Junior.

In the wake of the incident, a comprehensive review is underway. The force has also temporarily suspended the driving privileges of the officer involved pending the outcome of the investigation.

Jayne, Junior’s mum, recounted to the Manchester Evening News how she spent several hours at the hospital with her son, who suffered serious concussion as a result of the incident. She has since lodged a complaint.

“He had done nothing wrong,” she added.

“I can’t bring myself to watch the footage. These are two grown men. They didn’t identify themselves and he thought he was going to be robbed or attacked. He told me he’s never been so scared in all his life and thought he was going to die.

“As soon as he said they’d done nothing wrong he was able to go. How was there no duty of care for him after he’d been booted from one side of the road to the other? He’s only a child. He didn’t have a balaclava or a hat on, he wasn’t acting suspiciously. He has never been known to the police and has never been in trouble in his life.

“I went straight with him to Bolton Royal Infirmary, who were amazing. They said he was badly concussed and shocked so had to stay in for a few hours. He has cuts and bruises down his legs. It was brutal. He was wearing new clothes he got for Christmas and a brand new coat which is ripped to shreds.

“He clearly wasn’t trying to get away at first as he was stationary at the junction before. If he knew they were police, he would’ve spoken to them and gone over. That’s who he is. He isn’t a criminal.

“It’s just absolutely disgusting. We don’t know how this will affect him. He is now really scared about going back on the road. He goes to MMA and it’s part of his routine. He goes religiously and is so disciplined and confident, but at the end of the day this could have a lasting and traumatic effect on him. I don’t want his confidence to go because of this.”

Greater Manchester Police confirmed that Junior faced no arrest after the incident, though they noted the e-bike model was unlawful and subsequently confiscated under section 165 of the Road Traffic Act due to insurance requirements.

The family received a hospital visit from a superintendent who delivered an official apology.

A Greater Manchester Police spokesman stated: “We’re reviewing the use of tactical contact on a teenager riding an illegal e-bike in Salford last night. Officers from Operation Venture had earlier seen the e-bike being ridden in Little Hulton.

“Shortly after the e-bike was first sighted, a decision was made for one officer to make tactical contact while a second officer on foot detain the teenager. The teenager was taken to hospital by a family member as a precaution.

“We’re aware of a video circulating online which is part of our enquiries. It’s important we are able to establish the full circumstances. Tactical contact is a technique used by trained officers to safely stop suspects. All such incidents are recorded.

“Our Professional Standards Directorate is reviewing this case, and we have withdrawn the driving officer’s driving authority pending further investigation.”