A Morgantown man on a stolen motorcycle is under arrest after leading a Monongalia County Sheriff’s Deputy on a 3- minute chase into Preston County and back, according to police.
John Peter Foster IV, 44, is charged with receiving or transferring stolen property and fleeing from an officer with reckless indifference.
A camouflage motorcycle without a registration slowly passed Deputy J. Ward in the parking lot of Walmart on Hornbeck Road just after 2 a.m. on Saturday, according to a criminal complaint. Ward pulled behind the bike and confirmed there wasn’t a registration.
The motorcycle then went around a vehicle at the stop sign leading onto Hornbeck Road and started accelerating to a high rate of speed, prompting Ward to activate his emergency lights and siren to stop the vehicle, the complaint said.
The chase went up Grafton Road, into Preston County on Gladesville Road, to W. Va. 7 through Reedsville and onto W. Va. 92, before ending back on Gladesville Road in Monongalia County.
Monongalia County Sheriff Perry Palmer said the decision to chase a suspect or not depends on several factors such as the crime committed and if the public as at risk.
In this instance, the deputy knew it was Foster on the bike and knew he had several warrants out for his arrest, Palmer said. Foster’s weaving in and out of traffic as he did was also a serious risk to the public.
The motorcycle’s driver appeared impaired, the criminal complaint said. During the chase Ward saw the motorcycle swerve all over the road, pass three cars on the double yellow line and almost strike another vehicle head on. Speeds during the chase alternated from 25 mph to as high as 90 mph.
Eventually, the driver crashed when pulling off the road into a field and was arrested, the complaint said.
EMS was called and Foster was identified as the driver of the motorcycle, which was found to be a stolen 2019 Yamaha YZF through its VIN number, the complaint said.
Foster had three capias warrants for his arrest by the Monongalia County Sheriff’s Department. He also had active warrants for breaking and entering and fleeing with reckless disregard, the complaint said. Palmer said those were reported on July 10.
Foster was taken to J.W. Ruby Memorial Hospital and admitted following his arrest. Palmer said Foster was in the hospital until he was arraigned on Monday in Monongalia County Magistrate Court.
Foster is being held in North Central Regional Jail in lieu of $100,000 bond.
