Motorcycle chase ends in arrest, multiple felony charges

A 28-year-old man was arrested on multiple felony drug and weapons charges early Tuesday morning after law enforcement officers were led on a high-speed chase of a motorcycle through North Lawrence and ended in Watson Park.

Douglas County Sheriff’s spokesman Sgt. Steve Lewis identified the suspect as Dakota Dale McDaniel, whose address is unknown. He was charged with illegal distribution of controlled substances and drug paraphernalia, illegal possession of a firearm and possession of stolen property, as well as multiple traffic offenses. He was also being held on outstanding warrants from Johnson County.

Lewis said a sheriff’s deputy attempted to pull over a motorcycle after noticing its vehicle tag had no expiration sticker. The driver fled southbound on U.S. Highway 59 at a high rate of speed toward the Kansas River bridge. The deputy discontinued the chase because of the high speed and radioed ahead to Lawrence police officers who were waiting on the other side of the bridge. The deputy later found the motorcycle crashed near the bridge with the driver’s helmet lying nearby.

Police officers then picked up the chase as the suspect tried to flee on foot through Watson Park, running back and forth between Kentucky and Tennessee streets.

McDaniel was arrested near Sixth and Kentucky streets and taken to Lawrence Memorial Hospital for treatment of minor injuries. He was then booked into Douglas County Jail where he was being held without bond as of Tuesday afternoon.