High-Speed Pursuit of Felon Motorcyclist in Stewartville Ends With Crash

Stewartville, MN (KROC-AM News)- A motorcycle pursuit in the Stewartville area ended with a crash and charges for its operator. 

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That’s according to a criminal complaint filed in Olmsted County Court on Tuesday. The charges say an Olmsted County Sheriff's Deputy on routine patrol attempted to stop a motorcycle that did not have a license plate and failed to signal a lane change on Monday morning. 

The attempted traffic stop occurred along southbound Hwy. 63 north of Stewartville. The motorcycle operator is identified as 25-year-old James Michael Kenyon of Lanesboro. 

The complaint says the motorcycle accelerated away from the squad car after the deputy activated its lights and sirens. Kenyon was then seen making numerous turns to try and escape law enforcement before returning the motorcycle to Hwy. 63, the charges say. 

Kenyon drove the motorcycle north on the highway at speeds estimated to over 90 mph, the complaint says. The motorcycle was then seen leaving the left lane of Hwy. 63 onto the grassy median in an attempt to get onto Interstate 90. 

The motorcycle then crashed into what the charges described as thick brush before making it to the interstate. Kenyon was apprehended and evaluated at the scene by an ambulance crew. 

While caring for Kenyon, first responders found 1.2 grams of suspected meth with his clothing, the  complaint states. Kenyon was booked into the Olmsted County Jail shortly before 5:45 a.m.  

Kenyon was arraigned Tuesday on charges of felony fleeing and felony fifth-degree drug possession. The judge in the case set his conditional bail at $5,000. 

Court records indicate Kenyon has eight previous felony convictions including multiple fleeing convictions as recently as March of last year. He’s due back in court later this month.