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ADRIAN – An Upshur County man faces multiple felony charges after allegedly fleeing from police on a stolen motorcycle, with the chase crossing into Randolph County.
Christian Tyler Jarrell, 27, is charged with one count of fleeing reckless, one count of fleeing DUI and one count of possession of stolen property, all felonies. He is currently being held at the Tygart Valley Regional Jail on a $30,000 cash-only bond.
According to the criminal complaint, filed by Sgt. Tyler A. Gordon with the Upshur County Sheriff’s Office, on Oct. 5, Gordon observed a motorcycle bearing no registration plate near the intersection of Abbott Road and Route 20 in Adrian.
Gordon had previously been informed of a motorcycle that had been stolen on Oct. 1 from French Creek, and it appeared this motorcycle he observed was the same model, the complaint states. The driver was described as a white male wearing a large, hooded sweatshirt, and the passenger behind the driver was described as a female wearing a full-face helmet and a green sweatshirt.
When Gordon turned around to initiate a traffic stop, the driver of the motorcycle saw him and turned south on Route 20, accelerating “rapidly,” according to the complaint. As Gordon caught up to the motorcycle, he activated his emergency lights and siren. The driver’s helmet flew off as he allegedly accelerated to approximately 68 miles per hours in a 40 mph speed limit zone near Village Hardware Inc. in French Creek.
The driver reportedly continued to flee onto Waterloo Road, exceeding 55 mph, the complaint states. The driver then traveled on Kittle Run Road, which Gordon described as a “narrow gravel road,” before then traveling onto Alton Road. On Alton Road, the driver allegedly drove into the opposing lane of traffic, exceeding 68 mph. The chase continued onto Big Run Road, then onto Hinkle Ridge Road. The motorcycle continued to allegedly travel at speeds exceeding 58 mph while on narrow gravel roads and while traveling in the opposing lane of traffic. Gordon writes that the driver almost lost control of the motorcycle “numerous times.”
The motorcycle traveled onto Alexander Road, then onto Curry Road and Brooks Hill Road, the complaint states. Gordon writes that the driver was allegedly still speeding and almost lost control “several more times.” The vehicle then fled into Newlonton Road in Selbyville, still reportedly driving in a fast, reckless fashion, before entering Randolph County. As the driver neared Pickens, they allegedly continued to speed and almost lost control. The chase continued onto Hacker’s Creek Road and then onto Washington Street, where the driver nearly lost control again and finally stopped the vehicle.
The driver, who was reportedly identified as Jarrell, was taken into custody, the complaint states. Jarrell allegedly showed signs of impairment by being “unsteady, erratic and emotional,” as well has having “very rigid muscle tone.” Gordon writes that he has known Jarrell to be a “long-time user” of methamphetamine and fentanyl due to prior interactions with Jarrell and his associates.
At the Upshur County Sheriff’s Office, Jarrell allegedly admitted to using methamphetamine and fentanyl within the last day, according to the complaint. Jarrell also performed a standard field sobriety and an Advanced Roadside Impaired Driving Enforcement (ARIDE) tests, where he reportedly displayed numerous signs of impairment. A blood test was conducted at St. Joseph’s Hospital after Jarrell consented to the testing.
According to the complaint, the motorcycle was confirmed stolen from Normal Road in Upshur County, an area that Jarrell allegedly frequents. The motorcycle had been painted recently, smelling of new paint. Gordon also reportedly observed matching paint drops on Jarrell’s shoes. The stolen motorcycle was valued at approximately $2,500.
A preliminary hearing for Jarrell has been scheduled for Oct. 15 in Upshur County Magistrate Court.