Dad accused of ‘beating up’ kids on e-bikes who were in the roadway, stealing their phones

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. (KPHO/Gray News) – A father in Arizona is facing multiple charges after allegedly assaulting two kids on e-bikes while his own son watched from the car.

Police said the incident happened in a Scottsdale neighborhood last month. Officers were called to the scene around 4:30 p.m. on Dec. 27 where witnesses told them a man had exited an SUV and “beat up a kid on an e-bike” before fleeing the scene.

A police officer later spotted the SUV and pulled it over. Police identified the driver as 52-year-old Richard Davidson.

According to court documents, Davidson allegedly told authorities that he was driving with his son when multiple children on e-bikes were dodging in and out of traffic before he “took care of it.”

When asked to elaborate, Davidson said that he took two phones belonging to the kids before leaving the area, saying he had taken them for ransom so he could talk to the children’s parents.

Video from the incident allegedly showed Davidson exiting the vehicle before removing and throwing an e-bike from the road and chasing down one of the children. The video reportedly shows Davidson continue chasing him until the child falls onto the ground; then, Davison takes the child’s phone.

Moments later, Davidson is allegedly seen forcing another child off a moving e-bike. Davidson then reportedly forced the child onto the ground and took their phone before returning to his car and driving away.

In another video, a child is seen along the roadway when Davidson “appears to steer to the right, attempting to hit the juvenile before driving away,” police said in court documents.

Police have yet to release any of the video footage to the public or media.

Investigators said Davidson never expressed any remorse for the assault. He said several times that he did not like kids on e-bikes and that, at one point, he had moved away from Scottsdale because of the e-bikes.

Police asked Davidson why he hadn’t reported the e-bike incidents to them. He said he had called in the past, but that “fourth time’s the charm.”

Davidson was booked into the Maricopa County Jail on a $35,000 bond. He is facing multiple charges including felony assault and robbery.