Motorcyclist Arrested After Evading Police

Kevin Bandy

By Jessie Williams

A 25-year-old, wanted man was recently arrested after evading law enforcement on his motorcycle last month.

According to the affidavit of complaint filed by patrolman Taylor Boxold of the Lafayette Police Department, he observed a black motorcycle traveling at a high rate of speed on Hwy 52 West while on patrol, July 9, 2023. 

The officer’s radar clocked the motorcycle at 58 mph in a 40 mph speed zone.

When Officer Boxed attempted to conduct a traffic stop, he states the driver began to move at an accelerated rate of speed and swerved in and out of other vehicles on the road in an attempt to elude him. 

Recognizing that a pursuit would put other drivers in danger, he terminated the attempt to conduct a traffic stop. 

A short while later, however, a 911 caller reported seeing an abandoned motorcycle laying on its side at the Hwy 52 W and S. Long Creek Rd. intersection. The motorcycle matched the description of the one previously pursued by Patrolman Boxold. 

After running the VIN, the owner on record stated he sold the motorcycle to a man in Red Boiling Springs.

Officers then went to the address provided to them and spoke with the family members of the individual he stated he sold the motorcycle to – identified as Kevin Bandy. 

Bandy had been seen earlier that day on the same motorcycle by a witness. 

Lafayette Police Department detectives reached out to Bandy by phone on July 11, 2023 at which time he did verbally admit he was the driver of the motorcycle that evaded law enforcement.

A warrant was put out for his arrest on July 12, 2023, and he was arrested and charged with evading arrest, speeding and reckless endangerment on July 31, 2023. 

His bond was set at $7,000, and he is scheduled to appear in general sessions court on November 1, 2023.