Everton Bailey Jr.
The Oregonian
PORTLAND — A 24-year-old man accused of leading police on a motorcycle chase through North Portland told an officer that he didn’t pull over because he wanted to make it to work on time, court documents say.
The chase began when a Portland police motorcycle officer clocked 24-year-old Brett E. Locke traveling at 83 mph in a 45 mph zone along North Greeley Street on Thursday, according to a probable cause affidavit. The officer then activated his emergency lights and rode after Locke when he didn’t pull over.
Locke appeared to look back at the pursuing officer and continued to ride away on his motorcycle, including traveling the wrong way on North Going Street, the affidavit said. Locke lost the officer as they entered Swan Island, but the cop found Locke’s still warm motorcycle in a parking lot.
The officer went to Locke’s job at Columbia Distributing and found Locke, who admitted to owning the bike, the affidavit said.
Locke at first denied seeing emergency lights from the officer’s motorcycle, but then claimed, “he made a bad decision,” according to the affidavit. He later apologized for not pulling over and said he feared he would be fired if he was late for work.
Locke was booked into the Multnomah County Detention Center on suspicion of attempting to elude police. It is not clear if he made it to work on time.
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