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Group of teens accused of committing crimes while on scooters; 1 in custody

ATLANTA — Police are searching for a group of teens accused of committing crimes while riding around on electric scooters.

One of the teens, a 16-year-old, is now in custody after police said he assaulted a Jimmy John's deliveryman late Thursday night.

The victim, who did not want to be identified, told Channel 2 Action News the incident was not the first time he had a problem with the group of teenagers.

"The go around just stealing and harassing and threatening people and now recently assaulting me," he said.

Many said the group is ruining the quality of life for residents in the area.

“I absolutely have to try and avoid these guys at all cost,” the man said.

The deliveryman said he was just trying to do his job when he came face-to-face with the teens looking to pick a fight.

"These kids had their scooters and they were blocking the front entrance to the door," he said. "So I told them to get out of the way and they scooted back a little bit and started trash talking. I got kicked once directly by the foot and then the other two kicks forced the bike frame into my leg."

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Hours after the assault, police announced they had obtained an arrest warrant for the 16-year-old suspect. On Saturday afternoon, the suspect was located downtown and taken into custody.

But investigators said he is just one of four teens accused of traveling to midtown Atlanta where they've stolen from businesses, harassed customers and threatened residents who live along Peachtree Road.

"We are calling out investigators that very hour to work with the business owner to make sure we are prosecuting, that we are securing arrest warrants just like we did last night," Maj. Darin Schierbaum with the Atlanta Police Department said.

Earlier this month, Channel 2 Action News encountered the suspects, who range in age from 14 to 18.

Police said they're investigating and stepping up patrols in the area.

"If there's any business, if there is any citizen that believes they've been a victim of these individuals, call us. We do want to work with them," Schierbaum said.

Police also believe the four teens may be using stolen credit cards to rent the scooters.