Motorcycle chase ends in arrest /VA

[PeteSC]

Motorcycle chase ends in arrest
By Monty Tayloe
10/06/2005


On Sunday, October 2, a speeding motorcyclist led State Police on a chase down US-211 before being apprehended near Sperryville.

James D.Putman,32, of Lothian,MD, was charged with felony eluding and reckless driving before a police search found marijuana in his possession, adding drug charges to his laundry list of violations. Putman was riding his Kawasaki motorcycle Sunday afternoon with a group of other sport bikers eastbound on US-211 when his group was observed by several State Troopers.


According to the State Police, several members of the group were driving with visible equipment violations as well as speeding.

 
State Police in Rappahannock have often observed motorcycles on the road with their rear license plate folded up to prevent identification, or their rear view mirrors removed for track racing. Both modifications are illegal on the highway.

“There were a smorgasbord of violations,” said Sergeant Frank Ingham of the Virginia State Police .

Sergeant Ingham stayed behind one of the motorcyclists who seemed agitated, continually looking back at the trooper and increasing his speed. As Ingham followed, Putman crossed the double center line of US 211 to pass two cars, and Ingham put on his police lights, signaling Putman to pull over. Putman apparently decided to try to run instead.

“I could see he was into it, and then he took off down 211,” said Ingham. As the motorcycle and pursuing police car headed into Sperryville, Ingham radioed ahead to fellow trooper Eric Linkus, whose car was in position to cut Putman off.

“Trooper Linkus pulled in front of him and the bike tried to evade on the left side. That got him in the grass.” recalled Sergeant Ingham. “[Putman] couldn't get enough traction in there, and his bike just eventually fell over.”

A State Police record check of Putman revealed that he had been arrested in his home state of Maryland only a few weeks before on charges of submitting false information to police officers, and that he was driving on a suspended license. The recent arrest and the drugs on his person may explain why he chose to run from what otherwise would have been a routine traffic stop.