Micah D. Bettis, 20, Cottage Grove, was charged in Dakota County District Court Thursday, June 15 with felony fleeing a peace officer in a motor-vehicle. On June 14, a trooper with the Minnesota State Patrol was attempting to stop a motor-vehicle on Interstate 494 when a motorcycle passed him at a high rate of speed and failed to move over for the squad vehicle. The driver, later identified as Bettis, looked over his shoulder at the trooper.

According to the complaint, the trooper pulled back into the lane of traffic and pursued the motorcycle on Interstate 494. In pursuit, the trooper lost sight of the vehicle when it exited on Seventh Street, but dispatch was able to provide updated locations. At one point during the pursuit, the motorcycle and the trooper’s squad vehicle were traveling head-to-head. The trooper attempted to block the fleeing motorcycle with his squad vehicle, but the motorcycle was able to pass the vehicle.

Soon after, officers with the South Saint Paul Police Department located the motorcycle near Concord Exchange and Grand Avenue in South Saint Paul. The driver of the motorcycle, Bettis, had left it behind. Bettis was found in a densely wooded area near the motorcycle. When approached by an officer, Bettis stated, “Okay, I’m giving up.”

The trooper took custody of Bettis. While driving him to jail, Bettis asked the trooper if the radar kept records of his speed. He also said the motorcycle belonged to him. Bettis was served forfeiture paperwork for the motorcycle. In response, Bettis laughed and said the motorcycle was cheap. Bettis was booked into the Dakota County Jail.