A Burlington teenager is facing multiple charges after leading Des Moines County deputies on a motorcycle chase early Tuesday morning.
According to the Des Moines County Sheriff’s Office, deputies attempted to stop a motorcycle around 12:41 a.m. near North Central Avenue and Spring Street after noticing it was being driven without lights. Authorities say the motorcycle also ran a stop sign without slowing down.
Deputies activated emergency lights and sirens, but the driver accelerated and refused to stop, leading law enforcement on a pursuit through Burlington.
The chase ended near North 8th Street and Arch Street when the motorcycle crashed while attempting a turn. Investigators say the driver then fled on foot but was captured after a brief chase.
The suspect was identified as 18-year-old Johnathen James Bourquin of Burlington.
Deputies say a search of Bourquin turned up several pills, marijuana, and drug paraphernalia. Investigators also recovered ammunition and a Sig Sauer 9-millimeter handgun after Bourquin allegedly threw the firearm into a wooded area while running from deputies.
Bourquin was taken to the Des Moines County Correctional Center and charged with eluding, failure to obey a stop sign, failure to use headlamps, three counts of possession of a controlled substance, possession of drug paraphernalia, failure to affix a drug tax stamp, person ineligible to carry a dangerous weapon, and interference with official acts while armed with a firearm.
A criminal charge is merely an accusation, and the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
