onedef92
05-26-2011, 6:09am
Motorcyclist outruns sheriff in chase reaching 150 mph
Posted: May 25, 2011 11:10 AM EDT
Updated: May 25, 2011 5:41 PM EDT
BURKE COUNTY, NC (WBTV) - Burke County Sheriff John McDevitt has been in law enforcement for 37 years, but he experienced something on Wednesday for the very first time in his long career.
McDevitt was involved in a high-speed chase.
"That's the first time I've ever been outrun," the sheriff said.
The whole thing began as the sheriff and other officers were doing some surveillance. All of a sudden, a motorcycle went flying by them, putting other cars on the road in danger.
Lt. Tom Rhyne went after the motorcyclist, but the chase was too intense for his patrol car to keep up.
The sheriff, however, drives a Dodge Charger which has a Hemi engine. McDevitt passed Rhyne and tried to catch up to the motorcycle on Highway 64 as it headed South.
The sheriff stayed within sight of the motorcycle giving his speedometer a workout.
"I reached 150 at one point," the sheriff said.
The video from a local fire station showed the motorcycle going by so fast, it was hard to make out the make, model or even the tag number.
The sheriff just about caught him when they hit a line of traffic. The motorcycle slipped on through, but the sheriff could not.
"Once he was able to weave through that stopped traffic I couldn't catch up," McDevitt said.
The 10-mile chase was over at that point. Officials say the motorcyclist needs to be stopped or else he'll speed like that again.
All authorities say is that the motorcycle appeared to be a dark colored bike, probably black, and the driver wore darker clothes and a lighter colored helmet.
The biker weaved in and out of traffic and crossed yellow lines.
Sheriff McDevitt, who will leave office at the end of the month, said he is frustrated and hopes the culprit can be caught before he retires.
"Eventually it will catch up with him and he'll become a statistic," the sheriff said.
They just hope he doesn't take anyone with him. Officials still don't know why the motorcyclist ignored the blue lights and refused to stop.
Posted: May 25, 2011 11:10 AM EDT
Updated: May 25, 2011 5:41 PM EDT
BURKE COUNTY, NC (WBTV) - Burke County Sheriff John McDevitt has been in law enforcement for 37 years, but he experienced something on Wednesday for the very first time in his long career.
McDevitt was involved in a high-speed chase.
"That's the first time I've ever been outrun," the sheriff said.
The whole thing began as the sheriff and other officers were doing some surveillance. All of a sudden, a motorcycle went flying by them, putting other cars on the road in danger.
Lt. Tom Rhyne went after the motorcyclist, but the chase was too intense for his patrol car to keep up.
The sheriff, however, drives a Dodge Charger which has a Hemi engine. McDevitt passed Rhyne and tried to catch up to the motorcycle on Highway 64 as it headed South.
The sheriff stayed within sight of the motorcycle giving his speedometer a workout.
"I reached 150 at one point," the sheriff said.
The video from a local fire station showed the motorcycle going by so fast, it was hard to make out the make, model or even the tag number.
The sheriff just about caught him when they hit a line of traffic. The motorcycle slipped on through, but the sheriff could not.
"Once he was able to weave through that stopped traffic I couldn't catch up," McDevitt said.
The 10-mile chase was over at that point. Officials say the motorcyclist needs to be stopped or else he'll speed like that again.
All authorities say is that the motorcycle appeared to be a dark colored bike, probably black, and the driver wore darker clothes and a lighter colored helmet.
The biker weaved in and out of traffic and crossed yellow lines.
Sheriff McDevitt, who will leave office at the end of the month, said he is frustrated and hopes the culprit can be caught before he retires.
"Eventually it will catch up with him and he'll become a statistic," the sheriff said.
They just hope he doesn't take anyone with him. Officials still don't know why the motorcyclist ignored the blue lights and refused to stop.