Two South Shore teens accused of attacking a bicyclist reportedly envisioned their actions as a joke. But authorities are taking the incident seriously - the teens now are facing felony charges.

On the evening of March 26, California Highway Patrol Officers issued a "be on the lookout" advisory for a red Jeep, according to El Dorado County sheriff's Lt. Les Lovell.

The occupants of the Jeep allegedly pulled alongside a bicyclist heading east on Highway 50 in Meyers and shot the man with a penny launched from a slingshot.

At about 7:20 p.m., an El Dorado County sheriff's deputy located the vehicle and arrested the occupants - a 16-year-old Meyers resident and Christopher McLean, 18, of South Lake Tahoe.

McLean was taken to El Dorado County Jail in South Lake Tahoe, and the 16-year-old - who is not identified because they are a juvenile - was transported to El Dorado County's Juvenile Treatment Center.

The teens allegedly shot the bicyclist because they "thought it was funny," Lovell said.

The bicyclist escaped serious injury, but McLean and the 16-year-old face felony assault charges in connection with the incident, said El Dorado County Assistant District Attorney Hans Uthe.

McLean remained in custody Tuesday with bail set at $50,000 and is scheduled to appear in court Thursday, according to court records.

The case has attracted the attention of Tucson, Ariz., attorney and bicycle advocate Erik Ryberg, who has examined reports of similar attacks, sometimes referred to as "bicycle boxing," around the country.

"The problem is the victim rarely gets a chance to see the person, so unless the police do a really good job like they did in Tahoe, the assailant rarely gets caught," Ryberg said.

Law enforcement was aided in the Meyers incident by a motorist who was able to identify part of the license plate of the suspect vehicle and tell police, the attorney added.

In 2006, South Lake Tahoe was awarded the distinction of "Bicycle Friendly Community" by the League of American Bicyclists in 2006.

Enforcement of laws surrounding bicyclists and motorists is among the criteria the league uses when handing out the designation, and a representative from the league was encouraged that the reported incident was being investigated.

"We want to remain vigilant against this sort of behavior against cyclists and others. We believe that cyclists have a right to the road and should be treated as equal," said Bill Nesper, director of the Bicycle Friendly Community program. "All too often, cyclists are mistreated."

Although South Lake Tahoe's bike-friendly status is scheduled for review this fall, Nesper didn't expect the incident to affect the league's designation for the city.