failure to stop for blue lights
On March 22, an officer was advised of four wheelers in and around the community of Bllewood riding around on the streets, making noise and causing issues. The officer got assistance from two other officers and went to the community. No one on four wheelers were located at that time and the scene was cleared. About an hour later, the officer was advised again of the four wheelers and was told the four wheelers were on Lawson Street this time. The officer arrived at Lawson Street ad saw a red Polaris 1000 four wheeler with red headlights in the middle of the road doing a “wheelie” with people watching. The officer went to a residence on the street and spoke with the subject that had just gotten off the four wheeler and parked it at the residence. The officer advised that there had been multiple calls about the four wheelers and the noise they have been causing. The officer advised he needed the four wheeler to be put up for the night. The subject agreed and advised the four wheeler would not be used anymore that night. The officer then asked if the four wheeler stayed at the residence and the subject advised that it did. The officer then thanked the subject and left. The officer then went to a nearby street with his windows down to listen and make sure the subjects honored their word. A few minutes later, the officer not only heard multiple four wheelers, he also received another call from dispatch about the four wheelers causing issues again. The officer then drove back to the community and sat with his lights off. He witnessed the red Polaris and what was advised later to be a black Honda 400 EX four wheeler start racing, coming toward the officer’s position. The Polaris had its red lights on the front lit up while the black four wheeler had no lights on it. The Polaris did a “wheelie” again while the officer was cutting his lights back on along with his blue lights and siren and pulled out in order to pull both of the four wheelers over. At this time, both of the four wheelers turned around and rode back to the residence on Lawson Street with the officer in hot pursuit. The officer watched as the subject, Kevin Johnson, pulled the Polaris into a wooden shed, hopped off, and started to close the doors quickly. While he was doing this, the unknown suspect, a black male, on the Honda 400 EX, kept racing away and jumped a ditch behind the residence going toward Barnwell Street. This suspect was not caught at this time. The officer exited his vehicle, called or backup, and advised Johnson that his four wheeler was going to be towed. The officer advised Johnson that locking his four wheeler u in the shed would not prevent the towing. The officer then observed Johnson and saw he had water running out of his eyes toward his ears. The officer knows from experience that this can be caused by going faster than 40 MPH on a vehicle without a wind screen or eye protection. Johnson stated that it was not him on the four wheeler racing. The officer advised Johnson that he knew it was him and that he needed to produce his license for a ticket or he was going to be arrested. The officer advised that he had just come to the residence and told another driver of the four wheeler that it needed to be put up for the night. Johnson advised he was not the first rider of the four wheeler and did not know the officer had come by. The officer then advised Johnson that the street is a one-way street and in order for Johnson to get out, he would have passed the officer less than five minutes before. The officer asked Johnson why he would race knowing cops were near. Johnson stated he did not see him. The officer stated he did not care if the four wheeler stayed at the residence as long as Johnson paid the tow company’s fee. That is what the subject decided to do.
