Motorcyclist arrested following raucous chase in Manhattan
By TED SULLIVAN Chronicle Staff Writer
A Bozeman man on a stolen motorcycle led Manhattan police on a reckless chase Monday night, then crashed the bike to avoid a roadblock and fled on foot until an officer nabbed him.
Michael Ray Tyree Jr., 26, appeared Tuesday in Gallatin County Justice Court on felony theft and drug charges.
Judge G.L. Smith set Tyree's bail at $50,000 to hold him in Gallatin County's jail.
"I'm very familiar with Mr. Tyree," Smith said. "He is an absolute menace to society ... he is everywhere I look."
Tyree was driving a motorcycle south on Second Street in Manhattan at about 11:50 p.m. Monday, according to court records.
An officer noticed Tyree's bike had no license plates and turned on his top lights to stop him. But Tyree sped away, drove a couple of blocks and turned left on West Park Avenue en route to Taylor Park.
A second police officer then joined the chase.
Tyree drove off the road several times to avoid being captured. He eventually left the park heading west and then south.
Officers continued chasing Tyree with their sirens on through town until he turned left on Wooden Shoe Lane, skidded off the road and turned around.
An officer used his patrol car to block the intersection.
When Tyree attempted to go around the blockade he crashed the motorcycle and ran on foot over two fences to avoid police.
Two officers chased him across an open field and saw him throw a canvas bag holding methamphetamine, needles and syringes, according to court records.
An officer eventually caught Tyree, then found marijuana in his front pocket. He also learned the motorcycle was stolen.
Tyree was arrested on charges of motorcycle theft and possession of dangerous drugs, both felonies; and possession of drugs, possession of drug paraphernalia, eluding police and driving with a suspended license, all misdemeanors.
In court Tuesday, Deputy County Attorney John Worsfold asked for $25,000 bail.
"Mr. Tyree and his conduct shows a great disregard for law and order in this county," he said. "The state is very concerned."
Tyree's attorney, Deputy Public Defender Valerie Cairns, asked for $2,000 bail, saying her client has a family, job and has lived in the Bozeman area his entire life.
"I would ask the court to consider his situation," Cairns said.
But Smith, calling Tyree a "menace to society," set his bail at $50,000.
"I don't understand how you can see me to be that big of a menace to society," Tyree responded on video from the county jail.
He faces up to five years in prison and a $50,000 fine for possessing dangerous drugs and a minimum of one year, a maximum of 10 years and a $50,000 fine for motorcycle theft.
Tyree will enter a plea to the charges in District Court at a future date.
"I don't understand how you can see me to be that big of a menace to society," Tyree responded on video from the county jail.
Well, let's see. You steal motorcycles, drive with a suspended license and run from cops, and use drugs. Along with that, you created a 'family' that you won't be able to support, since your a criminal dumbarse, and guess who gets stuck paying for them? Naw, you're no menace to society.
Topic: Motorcyclist arrested following chase/MT (Read 1920 times)