The California Highway Patrol arrested a motorcyclist traveling at over 130 mph without initiating a highway pursuit. Instead, the police department used its fixed-wing aircraft to track the superbike until the rider came to a stop. That was when the police cars swung into action and arrested the rider.
This alternative method of tracking the suspect using a camera mounted on an aircraft avoided police car chases and crashes. What is even better is that it did not endanger the lives of other citizens on the road. Not only that, but the absence of a police chase also meant the motorcyclist was not pressured to speed further.
A video of the CHP operation, posted on Facebook, shows the suspect riding dangerously through traffic on a red motorcycle, likely a Ducati Panigale, on the Fourth of July at around 4:15 p.m. The police operator could be heard over the radio communicating the motorcycle’s speed to troopers on the ground.
The motorcycle appeared to be a small dot in the footage, traveling at excessive speed on the left shoulder and sometimes weaving dangerously close through traffic. After a few minutes, the suspect exited the freeway and rode the motorcycle to a parking lot, unaware that he was being tracked by the police.
Screenshot of video by California Highway Patrol on Facebook
Patrol vehicles on the ground were then directed to the location via radio. In no time, two police cars were at the spot, just as the rider had gotten down from his motorcycle. He was immediately arrested and charged with reckless driving. The court also ordered the seizure of his motorcycle for 30 days. The CHP revealed in the social media post:
“On July 4th, the CHP – Capistrano area commander observed a motorcyclist traveling in excess of 120 MPH. Using CHP’s fixed-wing aircraft, officers tracked the rider and coordinated a safe arrest once the motorcycle came to a stop. The motorcycle was seized for 30 days under a judge-signed court order.
“This is the 38th vehicle seized this year by the CHP Capistrano Area for reckless driving, speed contests, or evading law enforcement.
“Excessive speed and racing put everyone at risk. No thrill is worth a life. Slow down, drive responsibly, and help keep our roads safe.”
Of course, this method of tracking down suspects is much safer, but the cost of deploying a fixed-wing aircraft for every pursuit would be extremely high. Still, it would at least avoid putting the lives of innocent citizens at risk, something high-speed car chases often do.