Man wrecks motorcycle after high speed chase in St. Clair County

Justin Stewart

St. Clair County Sheriff Scott Keeler reports that on Jan. 30, a St. Clair County Deputy Sheriff took Justin Stewart, 28, Bolivar, into custody on several charges after he failed to yield to law enforcement while operating a 2013 Kawasaki Ninja 636 motorcycle.

During the evening hours deputies received information the motorcycle failed to yield to law enforcement in Polk County and evaded them. A deputy staged at Pilot Travel Center, Collins, located a motorcycle matching the description traveling north on Highway 13 south of SE 1000 Road.

The operator of motorcycle turned east on SE 1000 Road and crossed the double yellow lines. Emergency lights and sirens were activated in and the motorcycle refused to yield and sped up reaching speeds of approximately 130 miles-per-hour. The motorcycle attempted to turn east on Coon Creek Street and wrecked.

A deputy accompanied Stewart and a female, who was a passenger on the motorcycle, in an ambulance to Citizens Memorial Hospital, Bolivar. During the transport Stewart was found to in possession of methamphetamine, marijuana, and drug paraphernalia. The paraphernalia consisted of syringes, a pipe, and a spoon which field tested positive for methamphetamine's. 

Mr. Stewart was checked at the hospital and later released and transported to the St. Clair County Jail pending formal charges. The female was arrested at the hospital by another agency on no bond probation violation warrants