In this screenshot from the town’s downtown construction video, the motorcyclist can be seen heading up Main Street. A police cruiser (off camera) is not far behind.
The Hopkinton Police Department arrested and charged a 28-year-old Hopkinton man riding a black motorcycle who failed to stop while speeding up Hayden Rowe Street on Wednesday morning, prompting a 2-mile police chase.
Robert Wills was arrested and charged with:
- Leaving the scene of an accident with property damage,
- Reckless operation of a motor vehicle,
- Failure to stop for police,
- Uninsured motor vehicle,
- Unregistered motor vehicle,
- Speeding,
- Number plate missing,
- Possession of a large-capacity ammunition feeding device.
An HPD sergeant was notified by a fellow officer of a black motorcycle with one exhaust pipe traveling on West Main Street. Over the last several months, Hopkinton Police have attempted to stop a motorcycle fitting that description on several occasions, according to a press release.
A short time later, the sergeant observed a motorcycle matching the description in the area of 85 Main Street and attempted to conduct a motor vehicle stop. The operator, later identified as Wills, allegedly failed to stop.
Officers began to follow Wills but lost sight of the motorcycle. It was then observed on Holt Street. Officers continued to pursue the motorcycle for about two miles.
“As the motorcyclist approached the intersection of Ash Street and Thayer Heights Road, the operator allegedly attempted to pass another vehicle but collided with the vehicle, causing the motorcycle to crash onto its side,” according to the press release. Neither Wills nor the occupant of the second vehicle reported injuries.
Wills allegedly ran from the intersection on foot. He was quickly located by officers in a yard on Ash Street and was taken into custody without further incident.
At that time, Wills notified officers that he had a firearm and that he has a license to carry it in Massachusetts. While being booked, it was determined that the firearm contained a high-capacity magazine.
The Hopkinton Police Department filed an immediate threat suspension request with the Registry of Motor Vehicles.
Wills is scheduled to be arraigned at Framingham District Court on Wednesday afternoon.
“I would like to commend our officers for their use of caution during this incident given the time of day and extra traffic in the area,” said Detective Sgt. Scott van Raalten, who is serving as acting chief while Joseph Bennett is on vacation. “The officers displayed great awareness and were able to safely take the suspect into custody.”
Resident Brent McKenzie witnessed the motorcycle speeding.
“I was walking up Hayden Rowe this morning around 8:30 when a man/kid on a Japanese racing motorcycle flew by me,” McKenzie shared in an email. He estimated the motorcycle’s traveling speed at between 60-80 mph.
“About 30 seconds later I heard a police siren from the high school area and assumed the guy had crashed the motorcycle,” McKenzie continued via email. “Then a Hop police SUV came flying up Hayden Rowe (80+ mph) toward the high school. Then another 30 seconds later the same motorcycle came flying back down [Hayden Rowe] with two police cruisers following, all at 80+ mph.”
McKenzie stated it was “absolutely frightening” to see both the motorcycle and police vehicles traveling at such high speeds at that time of day, which is when buses and parents are taking children to school and people are on their way to work.
“All three of these vehicles [were] traveling at speeds I’ve never seen in this town,” he noted.
This was not the first time Wills has been arrested for a motor vehicle violation. According to a news report, Wills was arrested on Oct. 4, 2012, at age 17 when police “responded to a report of cars doing doughnuts in EMC Park.” Wills was charged with drunken driving and reckless operation of a motor vehicle.
Great Work HPD! That motorcyclist has been quite a dangerous nuisance in our neighborhood at all hours.