Motorcyclist Caught in 140-M.P.H. Chase

After reaching speeds of more than 140 m.p.h., police finally arrested a motorcyclist who led them on a 70-minute freeway chase Sunday that began in Huntington Beach and went through several Southern California communities before ending in Oceanside.

“With the traffic we had Sunday,” Huntington Beach police Sgt. Edward Deuel said, “it was literally a miracle that he didn’t hit somebody. He was definitely on a suicide run.”

Police said the suspect, identified as Cary James Watson, 30, of Ontario, stopped to buy $2 worth of gasoline in San Juan Capistrano, then was finally arrested in Oceanside, where he stopped at a fast-food restaurant to get a hamburger.

He was booked at Huntington Beach Jail late Sunday on charges of reckless driving and evading arrest, Deuel said.

According to police, the suspect’s motorcycle outran police cars during the chase. On one occasion, he rode the motorcycle up the concrete center divider and successfully evaded a police roadblock.

“He knew how to handle that bike, that’s for sure,” Deuel said.

Began at Slater and Golden West

The chase began about 5:05 p.m. in Huntington Beach, when a patrol officer noticed the motorcycle near Slater Avenue and Golden West Street as it came toward the officer’s car excessively fast, Deuel said.

“Actually, he almost hit the police car,” he said, “so the patrol car took off after him, and, well he just outran our units.”

A helicopter joined the chase and kept the motorcycle in sight as it went from the San Diego Freeway north to the San Gabriel River Freeway (Interstate 605), then north to the Riverside Freeway (California 91), then east to the Orange Freeway (California 57).

During the chase, police radios crackled with the information: “He’s got glasses and a mustache! Look for a white T-shirt, and he’s got a red-and-white helmet!”

Without stopping, the motorcyclist headed south on 57 to the Santa Ana Freeway (Interstate 5), then sped south toward San Diego.

Police said the suspect made a stop off the Ortega Highway in San Juan, when he went into a gasoline station, asked for $2 in gas and sped off, allegedly without paying.

Finally in Oceanside, San Diego County, the motorcyclist stopped for the hamburger. Police and California Highway Patrol units surrounded the restaurant.

The suspect was arrested without further incident at 6:15 p.m.