- An Arkansas State Trooper hit a motorcyclist who was actively fleeing from a traffic stop.
- The rider was knocked off the bike but wasn’t injured and was taken to jail.
- He now faces multiple serious charges stemming from the high-speed pursuit.
Motorcycles can sometimes prove to be the kryptonite of police who try to chase them. In Arkansas, the officers who get close enough to end a pursuit with a bike don’t waste their time. Now, we have evidence of exactly that as an ASP officer punted a rider off a bike after a high-speed chase.
It all started when Trooper Tanner Seal was stationed on the shoulder of US Highway 78 when a motorcyclist rolled by. According to a report in the video description below, Seal allegedly clocked the rider at 80 mph (129 km/h) in a 60 mph (97 km/h) zone. As such, Seal gave chase to conduct a traffic stop.
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The rider evidently had other ideas though because he took off at full throttle before the stop. Seal gave chase but the rider managed to put a huge gap on the cruiser. Despite that, Seal managed to catch up for a moment before the rider hit it again. “He’s playing games with me,” Seal said to dispatch. The pair of vehicles exceeded 100 mph (161 km/h) several times during the chase.
Apparently, Seal wasn’t going to let the rider do that again if he could actually get close enough. A few seconds later, the rider slows down for a corner and as he’s making that turn Seal hits him and the motorcycle at around 30 mph (48 km/h). The rider, reportedly named Michael E., fell off of his bike and initially attempted to regain his footing before Seal and another trooper moved in for the arrest.
According to the report, he had no warrants or any other significant reason to run. As a result of running he’s racked up a lengthy list of charges though. That includes felony fleeing, riding without a license, improper use of a turn signal, improper lane changes, riding without insurance, and reckless driving. Let it be known that police in Arkansas will be this brand of aggressive should they deem it necessary. They’re so willing to do this kinda thing that they sometimes pit the wrong person altogether.