West Valley police nab teenage suspect riding electric motorcycle after drone chase

PHOENIX – Police in the West Valley used a drone Saturday night to track down a teenage suspect who fled on an electric motorcycle.

The Buckeye Police Department released aerial night-vision footage of the drone chase in the Verrado master-planned community on Tuesday.

The incident started around 11:30 p.m. when officers saw an electric motorcycle run a stop sign. The rider, a 16-year-old boy, allegedly sped away when he saw a patrol vehicle behind him.

Police said he cut through a park, drove on a golf course path and went the wrong way on Victory Boulevard, all while the drone kept tabs on his location.

An officer in a patrol vehicle, with lights activated, tried pulling the suspect over near Pasadena and 206th avenues, but he didn’t stop.

The drone spotted the teen pushing the motorcycle on foot a short time later, and officers moved in and took him into custody.

The teen was booked into jail for felony flight, reckless driving and a curfew violation. In addition, he was cited for lacking a motorcycle endorsement on his driver’s license, current registration and insurance.

Related

Man arrested by Buckeye police after driving off while being served speeding ticketMan suspected of carjacking in California found driving stolen truck in Buckeye, police sayConstruction begins on $20.1M medical office condominium development in Queen CreekDeveloper announces completion of Nexus Commerce Center industrial park in Tempe2 found dead after fire at home in MaricopaNewborn found safe in northern AZ after being abducted from West Valley