Police nab Everett motorcyclist doing 120 mph

Published 11:37 am Thursday, July 10, 2008

EVERETT – Troopers in a Washington State Patrol airplane followed on Everett motorcyclist home from Seattle Wednesday evening after they spotted him driving nearly 120 mph on I-5.

Police in the airplane radioed to troopers on the ground and led them to the man, 28, who had ditched the bike and tried to hide behind a truck, trooper Keith Leary said.

Just before 8 p.m., the state patrol aircraft spotted about 10 bikers doing stunts and speeding on I-90 near Seattle, Leary said. They followed the bikes north on I-5 and the Everett man took off.

The motorcyclist drove on the shoulder and also threaded through traffic. Troopers on the ground held back and allowed the airplane to follow the man. He got off the freeway at the Everett Mall, then ditched the motorcycle at 73rd and McDougall Avenue and ran through yards, jumping fences before hiding behind a truck, Leary said.

The aircraft is equipped with sophisticated video cameras and the entire incident was recorded, he said.

The man was booked into the Snohomish County Jail for investigation of reckless driving. The motorcycle was impounded.

“We will not tolerate that type of driving,” Leary said.