This story is, um, interesting. These are not just felonies, assault on a minor is a going-to-PRISON level felony. It will be interesting to see what county prosecutors cook up, probably nothing, as we shall see.
The aggravated assault charge would stem from either or both using a vehicle (a “deadly weapon”), or the fact that the person assaulted was a minor. The hit-and-run indicates that police believe his car and the bike or kid collided at some point.
Fountain Hills man accused of assaulting kids on e-bikes in Scottsdale, court records say
…Richard Davidson, 52, of Fountain Hills, faces robbery and aggravated assault charges after he reportedly pulled two minors off their e-bikes on Friday near Via Linda and Frank Lloyd Wright Boulevard, court records said…
Davidson faces a total of five felony counts — two counts of robbery, two counts of aggravated assault on a minor, and one count of leaving the scene of an accident with injury or death.
Here’s another news report:
Police: Father shows no remorse after attacking kids on e-bikes in Scottsdale
Around 4:30 p.m. on Friday (12/27/2024?), officers were called to a collision involving a vehicle and a pedestrian at the intersection of Via Linda and Frank Lloyd Wright Boulevard. There, witnesses told 911 that a man had exited an SUV, described as a Toyota RAV4, and “beat up a kid on an e-bike” before fleeing the scene.
It’s worth reviewing how assault (sometimes called “simple” assault) 13-1203 is defined, because it doesn’t even require physical contact; intentionally steering a vehicle towards someone can be quite readily seen as “Intentionally placing another person in reasonable apprehension of imminent physical injury”.
County prosecutors, however, have a way of wriggling out of bringing charges, I wouldn’t be surprised if county “declines” despite the video evidence mentioned; In fact there’s already charges filed (12/31/2024) in Scottsdale city court that will be nothing more than misdemeanors, and assuming this is the same incident would bar felony prosecution (“double jeopardy”). Typical, as “car criminals” get special treatment from prosecutors.
This case involves a Richard Edmond Davidson who is 52 years old:
Case Number: M-0751-CR-2024020054 Title: DAVIDSON, RICHARD EDMOND Category: Court: Scottsdale City Court RICHARD EDMOND DAVIDSON DEFENDANT Citation Count Description Disp. Date Disposition C072540066871 1 PREVENT/INTERFERE TELEPHONE EMERGENCY C072540066871 2 RECKLESS DRIVING C072540066871 3 OBST HWY/PUB LIC THOROUGHFARE C072540066871 4 DISORDERLY CONDUCT - DISTURBANCE C072540066871 5 DISORDERLY CONDUCT - DISTURBANCE C072540066872 6 DISORDERLY CONDUCT - DISTURBANCE C072540066872 7 DISORDERLY CONDUCT - DISTURBANCE
I hope you’re wrong, there can be no hiding behind a claim of unitentional contact with this one. I mean, the guy exits his vehicle and causes harm, then steals their phones! Punishment is well deserved. If only misdomenors, then hopefully the victims will retain representation to pursue civil actions against this guy.