The day Charles Bever stole the mini bike, he rode it on the sidewalk.
And that was his second mistake.
Marion Police Sgt. Terry Kearney spotted Bever, 19, riding the bike in the 200 block of Eighth Avenue around 8:30 p.m. Feb. 28. Kearney pulled over, warned him that it was illegal to ride the bike on the sidewalk and let him go on his way.
But before he did that, he got Bever’s name and found out where he lived.
Bever apparently ditched the bike in the 100 block of Fifth Avenue because a resident found it there the next day and reported it to police.
It didn’t all come together until Wednesday, when Thomas Slaymaker, 36, reported a burglary at 1889 Apache Dr. He told police someone had taken a 2008 Baja Racer mini bike from his shed.
Sgt. Kearney remembered the exchange he had with Bever and knew where to find him. Police located Bever on Thursday night on Apache Drive and cited him for fourth-degree theft.
Bever also was charged with driving with a suspended license, even though he was on the sidewalk.
“The roadway includes the city right-of-way,” Lt. Steve Etzel said. “It’s a motorized vehicle, and you can’t operate a motorized vehicle on the roadway if your license is suspended.”
The bikes, which are intended for young kids, are meant to be used in off-road situations. Technically, Etzel said, even a child could be cited for driving without a license if they were riding a mini bike on the street or sidewalk.
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