A motorcyclist blew past 120 miles per hour on C-470 while trying to outrun Jefferson County sheriff’s deputies, weaving through traffic westbound before a Colorado State Patrol aircraft helped bring the chase to a safe close. The rider now faces felony charges after a six-hour joint operation targeting reckless motorcycle behavior on the busy Denver-area loop left two people arrested and 11 citations issued for reckless driving and speeding.
The operation began when Jefferson County Sheriff’s deputies attempted to stop three motorcycles on Bowles Avenue, according to CBS Colorado. Two of the bikes pulled over without incident, but one rider fled, first reaching about 75 mph before accelerating to well over 100 mph and eventually topping more than 120 mph as he zigzagged in and out of traffic on westbound C-470. Rather than continue a high-speed ground pursuit, the Colorado State Patrol turned to one of its aircraft, which tracked the fleeing motorcyclist from above while ground officers slowed their pursuit for safety.
Aerial Tracking Replaces High-Speed Chase
The strategy worked. With the plane keeping the suspect in view, deputies were able to stop the rider on eastbound I-70 at the Youngfield exit without further endangering drivers on the crowded corridor. The station’s report notes a Jefferson County motor deputy shouted for the rider to pull over during the stop. The motorcyclist was ultimately charged with felony charges, though the specific counts were not detailed.
Sgt. Ivan Alvarado said the Colorado State Patrol decides whether to pursue a fleeing vehicle on a case-by-case basis, weighing the safety of officers, suspects and everyone else on the road, per the same account. Aircraft support let ground units back off while keeping continuous eyes on the suspect — an approach the Colorado State Patrol Aircraft Unit is built for, since its state-owned planes operate around the clock to assist ground agencies with tracking and surveillance missions, according to the Colorado State Patrol.
A Pattern of Bold, Reckless Riding
Alvarado reported that motorcyclists have become more bold and reckless on Colorado roads, and said eluding law enforcement on a motorcycle has been a growing problem over the past several years. He warned that running from police simply is not worth the risk, adding that motorcycle riders are at fault in the majority of motorcycle crashes. The Colorado State Patrol has said that as officers’ use of technology like aircraft tracking increases, a fleeing rider’s chances of actually escaping decrease — and the agency is advising riders against trying…