Jonathan Bailey, a 20-year-old Pontiac resident, was arrested on Saturday, June 24 for driving with a suspended license and fleeing and eluding the police.
Three motorcycles were spotted driving northbound on Lapeer Road in the early hours of Saturday morning. One of the motorcycles, driven by Bailey with a passenger behind him, was driving recklessly, in and around the other two motorcycles, when spotted by Officer Robert Barker.
Barker pulled behind the motorcycles. When his lights were activated Bailey took off, going west on Indianwood Road, followed by the patrol car.
According to Chief of Police Jerry Narsh, Bailey was driving ‘well in excess of 100 miles per hour,? and the patrol backed off to a safe speed while keeping the bike in view.
With Bailey heading into Oxford, the Lake Orion Police Department had assistance from the Oxford Police Department and the Oakland County Sheriff’s Department. Deputies from Oxford and Addison arrested Bailey and turned him over to the LOPD.
Bailey was arraigned in front of Magistrate Marie Soma at the 52-3 district court in Rochester Hills, where he was charged with fleeing and eluding in the fourth degree, which is a two year felony. He was also charged with operating with a suspended license with multiple offences.
Bailey is being held in the Oakland County jail on a $7,500 cash bond.
‘I am not happy with the $7,500. It is much too low,? said Narsh, stressing how dangerous it is to flee the police. He describes it as ‘a death waiting to happen.?
According to Narsh, with Bailey’s excessive speeding, he was endangering himself, his passenger, the police and any member of society who might have been on the roads. ‘We’re fortunate, in this case, no one was injured or killed.?
Bailey has a criminal history involving felony convictions. He faces an additional hearing in circuit court for probation violation.
‘Let the warning be made,? said Narsh, ‘if you run from the police, it is a felony and you will go to jail.?