By John Agar
mlive.com
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — A state police helicopter helped Grand Rapids police capture a motorcyclist who went off-road after fleeing a traffic stop.
The incident happened Friday, March 14.
Grand Rapids police attempted a traffic stop before the motorcyclist fled at a high speed.
Patrol officers did not initiate a pursuit over concerns for other vehicles and people who were outside.
The helicopter was able to find the suspect and provide real-time information to police on the ground.
The helicopter, “Trooper 3,” followed the motorcyclist as he turned turned west on Burton Street SE from South Division Avenue.
“We got eyes on him,” a spotter reported.
The motorcyclist then headed south on Buchanan Avenue, driving onto a sidewalk, before going off-road in a wooded area. The motorcyclist was seen between Plaster Creek and the railroad tracks.
As police approached, the spotter told an officer, “He’s gonna be coming right at you. … Patrol car coming south, stop. Yeah, right there.”
The motorcyclist left the trail and crashed into the side of a car. He ran and fell, then continued trying to escape into the woods, police said.
As police closed in, he was lying on his back, arms and legs spread, before he rolled over. Two officers took him into custody.
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