CHILLICOTHE, Ohio – A dirt bike with no license plate led to a brief pursuit through downtown Chillicothe early Tuesday morning before a police supervisor called off the chase, according to a report filed by the Chillicothe Police Department.
The incident began around 1:35 a.m. on March 10 when an officer on patrol noticed a red dirt bike traveling westbound on Main Street near the Bridge Street intersection. The bike had been parked outside a local bar, The Wobbly Ghost at 289 E. Main St., for much of the officer’s shift before it was spotted moving, the report reads.
As the dirt bike cleared the intersection, the rider began revving the engine and reportedly accelerated rapidly. The officer followed and caught up to the dirt bike near the intersection of Paint Street and Main Street, where the rider glanced back over his shoulder before turning south onto Paint Street. The officer noted the rider was wearing a helmet and could only confirm the driver appeared to be male. The bike had no license plate.
As the officer moved to initiate a traffic stop near 6th Street and Paint Street and activated emergency lights, the rider shook his head, looked back, and continued southbound at a moderate pace while repeatedly checking behind him. When the rider began revving the engine again, the officer backed off to a safe following distance. After two more revs, the rider accelerated southbound onto State Route 772.
A supervisor ordered the officer to discontinue the pursuit around Patton Hill Road. The dirt bike continued down SR 772.
The officer then returned to The Wobbly Ghost to ask staff about surveillance footage or any information that might help identify the rider. Employees told the officer that only the business owner has access to the security footage. Contact information was left with the business in the event footage is recovered, or the rider is identified.
No injuries were reported and the investigation is ongoing