A 26-year-old Kent man was arrested last week after police said he taunted officers on a dirt bike, took selfies with a patrol car behind him, and then tried to flee before being tracked by the King County Sheriff’s Office (KCSO) Guardian 1 helicopter.
Police said the incident began around 8:56 p.m. when Sgt. Clay of the Kent Police Department saw a motorbike without a helmeted rider, headlights, or taillights traveling along Kent Kangley Road.
The bike was not street legal and posed a danger on the road at night.
As Sgt. Clay turned to follow, police said the rider began taking selfies that included the police car behind him. The rider then sped off and refused to stop. Kent Police said they typically do not pursue motorbikes due to safety concerns, but KCSO’s Guardian 1 was already overhead and monitoring the situation.
Officers said the rider repeatedly circled patrol cars, popped wheelies, and tried to bait police into a chase. He eventually returned home, where Guardian 1 tracked him as he parked the bike and attempted to hide it in his garage. When the man tried to flee on foot through his backyard, officers moved in and arrested him without incident (see video below).
The motorbike was impounded, and the suspect’s cell phone, which contained videos of the pursuit, was seized pending a search warrant, police said.
The man faces charges of attempting to elude a police vehicle, reckless driving, and driving while license suspended in the third degree, according to Kent Police.
Video
Below is video from Guardian 1’s pursuit, courtesy the King County Sheriff’s Office:
