Police arrest boy, 13, for reckless dirt bike driving along Bethesda Row 

Teen released to his mother, faces charges including disorderly conduct and driving without a license

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April 24, 2026 11:50 a.m.

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A 13-year-old boy is facing charges for recklessly driving a dirt bike along Bethesda Row on Wednesday evening, Montgomery County police said in a press release Thursday. 

The boy was part of a larger group of teens who were captured on video doing wheelies and burnouts on their dirt bikes in the area of Arlington Road and Bethesda Avenue at approximately 6 p.m. Wednesday, according to police.  

Police responded to the scene after receiving “multiple calls for service” about the teens “nearly hitting pedestrians and cars,” according to the release. 

The 13-year-old was the only rider arrested. Police are not looking for the other teens. 

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Video released by police shows the teens driving their dirt bikes up and down the roadway and blocking the entrance to a parking garage. Pedestrians can be seen walking between businesses in the downtown shopping area. At one point, the teens appear to stop and talk to another group of young people. 

According to the release, one police officer walked toward the group of teens while another responded in an unmarked cruiser. The teens sped away toward Elm Street, police said.  

The 13-year-old boy then circled back toward the officers, riding on Elm Street from Woodmont Avenue. One officer “removed the teen from the dirt bike” and attempted to take him into custody as other officers stepped in to assist.  

Police said the boy “resisted arrest and shouted racial epithets at officers,” though this could not be heard in body-worn camera footage from the incident released by police. Police put the boy in handcuffs and took him to the 2nd District station in downtown Bethesda, according to the press release. 

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Following his arrest, police said they released the boy to his mother and confiscated his dirt bike. He is charged with disorderly conduct, driving without a license, reckless and negligent driving and resisting arrest, among other offenses.  

To be operated on a public roadway under Maryland law, police said, an electric dirt bike must be licensed, registered, and have certain safety equipment. The boy who was arrested does not have a driver’s license and his dirt bike was not registered, police said.  

Police are encouraging parents to use caution when purchasing dirt bikes and other electric bikes for their children, according to the release.  

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Originally published at Bethesdamagazine