Jenkins

Jenkins

ELKINS — A Beverly man is behind bars after allegedly fleeing from police at speeds of 95 mph on a motorcycle.

Matthew Brian Jenkins, 23, of Beverly, is being charged with one felony count of fleeing with reckless indifference and a misdemeanor count of fraudulent registration. Magistrate George Riggleman set bond at $10,000 cash or surety.

According to a criminal complaint filed in Randolph County Magistrate Court, on Monday at about 12:12 a.m., West Virginia State Police Trooper E.B. Malcomb was patrolling in the area of U.S. Route 219 in the city of Elkins when he saw a black motorcycle with no registration traveling south at a high rate of speed. Malcomb attempted to initiate a traffic stop.

“The operator of the motorcycle then revved the engine and began to exceed speeds of 95 miles per hour,” the complaint states. “During this time the operator of the motorcycle failed to yield at the stop light at the intersection of Chenoweth Creek Road. The operator continued to travel at speeds exceeding 80 miles per hour until turning onto Kings Run Road.”

According to the complaint, Jenkins then allegedly went left of center while traveling around two curves. Jenkins then turned north onto County Route 26 and continued approximately .7 miles before crashing. At approximately 12:16 a.m. Trooper First Class D.T. Stallings made contact with Jenkins at the time of the crash.

According to the complaint, Stallings instructed Jenkins to stop and show his hands.

“At this time, the operator stated that he was done and began to flee on foot over the embankment,” the complaint states.

Officers began to pursue Jenkins into the wooded area adjacent to County Route 26. The officers made contact with Jenkins at the bottom of the embankment within the creek bed, according to the complaint.

The officers instructed Jenkins to show his hands multiple times, while Jenkins allegedly continued to conceal his face and hands under his body. Once his hands were exposed the officers placed him in handcuffs.

Once in custody, the officers ran Jenkins’ information through the West Virginia State Police Elkins Communications and found Jenkins had a revoked operator’s license due to one active DUE with an effective date of Dec. 31, 2019. Jenkins advised officers he did not have insurance on the motorcycle, the complaint states.

The motorcycle had what appeared to be a Kansas registration, but was actually a fraudulent sticker placed on a West Virginia National Guard plastic advertisement, according to the complaint. The registration on the motorcycle returned as a plate that expired in 2015 and that was last displayed on a 2008 Harley Davidson. The VIN on Jenkins’ motorcycle returned on a 2001 Honda.

Jenkins was transported to Tygart Valley Regional Jail after being processed.