A North Carolina man accused of leading deputies on a high-speed motorcycle pursuit before abandoning a stolen bike in the woods has been arrested weeks after authorities say he initially escaped capture.
According to the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office, the incident began on May 11, when a narcotics agent attempted to conduct a traffic stop on a black dual-sport motorcycle traveling along West U.S. Highway 64. Authorities said the rider refused to stop and instead sped away, leading deputies on a pursuit that reached speeds of approximately 90 mph.
Investigators said the rider eventually traveled into the Walker Road area before leaving the roadway and entering a wooded trail. The vehicle pursuit came to an end, but deputies continued searching the area on foot.
Authorities later located the motorcycle abandoned roughly one-quarter mile into the woods. A check of the VIN revealed the motorcycle had been reported stolen out of Polk County, Tennessee.
Stolen Motorcycle Was Found Abandoned in the Woods
Following an investigation, officers identified the rider as Justin Ray Roberts and obtained warrants for his arrest. Investigators did not release details about how Roberts was identified following the pursuit.
Roberts was later taken into custody while deputies conducted proactive patrol operations in the Culberson Church Road area. According to authorities, Deputy Chris Baty conducted a traffic stop and spotted Roberts sitting in the passenger seat of a vehicle.
Deputies arrested Roberts on the outstanding Cherokee County warrants without incident. Cherokee County E-911 also advised law enforcement that Roberts was allegedly wanted on felony warrants from another state.
Suspect Was Served With Criminal Charges and Warrants
Authorities transported Roberts to the Cherokee County Detention Center, where he was served with criminal charges and warrants. He is currently being held under a $20,000 secured bond, according to the sheriff’s office.
Roberts now faces charges including felony flee to elude arrest with a motor vehicle, felony possession of a stolen motor vehicle, multiple misdemeanor charges, and fugitive from justice. Officials have not yet released additional details about the out-of-state felony warrants.
If convicted, Roberts could face significant penalties under North Carolina law, including up to seven years in jail and other potential consequences. Felony fleeing to elude arrest and possession of a stolen motor vehicle can both carry prison time, depending on criminal history and the circumstances of the case.
Sheriff Praises Patrol Division After Arrest
Sheriff Chris Wood praised the actions of the patrol division following the arrest. He said, “Our patrol division is the backbone of the agency. These men and women are out on the streets of Cherokee County 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Thanks to the proactive work of this deputy, a reckless offender was taken into custody.”
Currently, the Facebook post detailing the events has limited who can comment on it. This is not exclusive to this post, as the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office in North Carolina has limited commenting across all of their posts on the platform.
Authorities have not announced whether additional charges could be forthcoming. As with all criminal cases, Roberts is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.