Thanks to the help of several citizens, a man is in custody after he led a Caledonia Police officer on a high-speed chase for .7 miles, according to a criminal complaint by the Racine County District Attorney’s Office.
Hector Diaz Jr., 19, of Caledonia, was charged by the Racine County District Attorney’s Office Tuesday, Sept. 8 with fleeing and eluding a police officer.
If convicted of the charge, Diaz Jr. faces up to three years six months in prison and/or fines up to $10,000.
According to the criminal complaint, an officer with the Caledonia Police Department tried to stop Diaz Jr. for speeding 61 mph in a 45 mph zone. Instead of pulling over, Diaz Jr. sped up to evade the officer. Turning eastbound on 6 Mile Road, a motorist pointed the officer in the direction of Diaz Jr. at the intersection of Highway 32 and 6 Mile Road. Seeing the motorcycle exceeding the speed limit at 6 Mile and Bobolink roads, the officer then lost sight of Diaz Jr.
The officer terminated the pursuit, but a man walking along side the road with a child told the officer that the motorcyclist was traveling northbound on Lamberton and that the motorcycle drove down Lakeshore Drive and Indian Trail. The officer looked for the motorcyclist and eventually found Diaz Jr. and his motorcycle parked at a residence in the 7400 block of Paul Bunyan Road.
Seeing the police officer, Diaz fled on the motorcycle again, didn’t stop for a stop sign and almost lost control of the motorcycle, according to the criminal complaint.
Traveling at 70 mph in a 25 mph zone, police saw pedestrians in the area. Diaz Jr. failed to stop again at a stop sign at Cliffside Drive and Indian Trail. After losing sight of Diaz Jr. a second time, another motorist told police that Diaz Jr. rode down Bittersweet Court. Finding Diaz Jr. walking along the street towards him, the officer asked if he was riding the motorcycle and he said he was. When asked why he fled from the officer, Diaz Jr. told him that he didn’t have a motorcycle license. Police also learned he had a suspended driver’s license that never had a motorcycle endorsement.
In addition to the felony fleeing and eluding charge, Diaz Jr. was also cited for speeding, operating with a suspended driver’s license, operating without a motorcycle license, and reckless driving.
A cash bond was set at $400. Diaz Jr. is expected to have a preliminary hearing at 8:30 a.m. Sept. 24 in front of Racine County Felony Court Judge Eugene Gasiorkiewicz.
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