Motorcycle incident going to grand jury
Rider allegedly led police on high-speed chase through MSFF streets
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ELKINS – A Randolph County grand jury will hear the case against a Preston County man who allegedly drove a motorcycle through blocked, crowded streets during the Mountain State Forest Festival and led police on a high-speed chase.
Preston Lee Chewning, 19, of Reedsville, is charged with one count of fleeing with reckless indifference, a felony. Chewning was being held at the Tygart Valley Regional Jail on a $30,000 cash-only bond, set by Magistrate Mike Dyer, but he has since posted bond.
On Tuesday afternoon, Chewning appeared in Randolph County Magistrate Court with attorney Raymond LaMora III. Chewning waived his right to a preliminary hearing, moving his case forward to be considered by a grand jury. During this hearing, Magtistrate Tracy Harper accepted a motion from LaMora to modify Chewning’s bond from a $30,000 cash-only bond to a “10% to the court” bond.
According to the criminal complaint, filed by Corporeal D.T. Sayre with the Elkins Police Department, on Oct. 1, Sayre, along with Lt. C.G. Boatwright, were conducting foot patrol in the area of Third Street and Davis Avenue for the Mountain State Forest Festival.
Both officers observed a motorcycle drive through a street barrier at Fourth Street and Davis Avenue while a patrol vehicle was in pursuit of it with lights and sirens activated, the complaint states. Both then attempted to instruct the motorcycle to stop; however, the motorcycle continued to drive “at a high rate of speed” through the crowded intersection.
Sayre and Sgt. D.E. George proceeded to Sayre’s patrol vehicle to assist in the high speed pursuit, according to the complaint. Sayre turned on his emergency lights and sirens to warn the crowds to remain out of the roadway as the patrol vehicles pursued the suspect.
As officers traveled towards South Elkins, Sayre and George overheard radio traffic that the motorcycle was traveling toward Ward Road “in speeds exceeding the posted speed limit,” the complaint states. Officers pursued the motorcycle on Ward Road and onto the Beverly Five Lane, with the motorcycle allegedly continuing to flee in speeds in excess of 100 miles per hour while in posted 45 mph and 55 mph zones.
The chase continued into Beverly, where, once on Main Street, Sayre reportedly observed the motorcycle crossing double yellow lines, passing motorists traveling toward Dailey, and driving in the opposite lane of travel “in excess” of 80 mph in a posted 35 mph zone, the complaint states.
When the chase continued and officers approached Grimes Enterprises in Dailey, Sayre gave “clear and audible” signals for the driver to pull over; however, the driver failed to do so, the complaint states. The pursuit continued south on Route 219 toward Dailey as the motorcycle allegedly continued to travel at speeds over 100 mph and to pass vehicles on the double yellow line.
As the motorcycle and officers approached Valley Bend, Sayre was able to get in front of the motorcycle, attempting to slow it down; however, the motorcycle went around Sayre “multiple times,” according to the complaint.
Officers were finally able to get the driver to stop after they performed a box-in technique with cruisers surrounding the motorcycle, the complaint states. Once the driver stopped, he was “swiftly” apprehended and identified as Chewning. Once in custody, Chewning was evaluated by Randolph County EMS “due to a minor vehicular accident that occurred during his apprehension.” Chewning reportedly refused EMS medical attention and advised that he did not wish to be transported to the hospital for further evaluation.