A West Burlington man is facing multiple charges after allegedly leading law enforcement on a high-speed motorcycle pursuit before crashing into another vehicle.
According to the Des Moines County Sheriff’s Office, deputies attempted to stop a motorcycle around 11:39 a.m. on Saturday, July 11, at Roosevelt Avenue and U.S. Highway 34 after the rider allegedly failed to stop at a stop sign and was operating without displaying registration.
Authorities say the rider fled south on U.S. Highway 61, reaching speeds of more than 120 miles per hour. The pursuit continued as the motorcycle turned north onto Summer Street and headed back toward Burlington. Deputies lost sight of the motorcycle and ended the pursuit near Summer Street and Madison Avenue.
A short time later, a Burlington Police officer reportedly spotted the same motorcycle turning north onto South 10th Street from Harrison Avenue. Investigators say the rider attempted to accelerate but struck another vehicle from behind.
The rider was taken into custody and identified as 22-year-old Justin Thomas Bessine of West Burlington. He was transported to the Des Moines County Correctional Center and charged with felony eluding, failure to obey a stop sign, operating a non-registered vehicle, speeding, reckless driving, and driving while under suspension.
A criminal charge is merely an accusation, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.