Motorcyclist Arrested for Allegedly Fleeing Traffic Stop, Leading Deputies on High-Speed Pursuit
COPPEROPOLIS, CA — Calaveras County authorities reportedly arrested a man following a high-speed pursuit that began with a traffic stop.
According to a press release by the Calaveras County Sheriff’s Office, a deputy attempted to stop a black motorcycle on Reeds Turnpike near Copper Town Square in Copperopolis on the night of February 25. The motorcycle driver allegedly fled at speeds of up to 80 miles per hour while maneuvering onto Hodson Road from Highway 4.
The pursuit continued into the Diamond XX subdivision, where the motorcycle reached 55 miles per hour and traveled in the opposite lane.
The driver continued fleeing on various roads within Diamond XX before returning to Hodson Road, crossing Highway 4, and proceeding onto Little John Road, at up to 90 miles per hour.
The motorcycle then traveled in the opposite direction of traffic on Quail Hill Road and Arrowhead Street, reaching 75 miles per hour.
The motorcyclist then crossed Quail Hill Road multiple times before turning onto Copper Cove Drive and heading toward O’Byrne’s Ferry Road. The driver then entered a dirt lot near the Rocket Gas Station and maneuvered through traffic barriers, preventing the deputy from continuing the pursuit.
California Highway Patrol officers, an additional deputy, and an aviation unit from the Stanislaus County Sheriff’s Office arrived in the area. CHP officers later located the motorcycle in Tuolumne County before it returned to Calaveras County via O’Byrne’s Ferry Road and entered the Copper Meadows subdivision.
The aviation unit monitored the pursuit and reported that the driver had parked the motorcycle and jumped over a fence into the backyard of a residence on Copper Crest Drive.
CHP officers and deputies surrounded the property and searched the backyard. The suspect was reportedly found hiding in a chicken coop and at that point complied with officers’ commands.
Deputies identified the suspect as Jacob Schulte, 31.
A search of the chicken coop resulted in the discovery of a plastic bag containing over 3 grams of suspected methamphetamine, authorities said.
Schulte was arrested and booked at the Calaveras County jail on suspicion of evading a peace officer with wanton disregard for safety, evading a peace officer while driving the wrong way, possession of a controlled substance with two prior offenses, driving with a suspended license, excessive speed, failure to signal, and having a non-functioning taillight.
Schulte was also booked on a misdemeanor bench warrant for failure to appear, authorities said.
