A motorcyclist who fled a traffic stop by speeding past stopped school buses and later crashed his bike was arrested after trying to flee the scene on foot, police said.
Laurance "Spike" Varelis, 31, of Haledon, was charged with 14 motor vehicle summonses as well as criminal eluding and resisting arrest, Wayne police said. WAYNE -- A motorcyclist who fled a traffic stop by speeding past stopped school buses and later crashed his bike was arrested on Tuesday after trying to flee the scene on foot, police said.
Laurance "Spike" Varelis, 31, of Haledon, was charged with 14 motor vehicle summonses as well as criminal eluding and resisting arrest, Wayne police Capt. Laurence Martin said in a news release.
Officer Michael Polifrone saw a black Yamaha motorcycle driving recklessly and at a high rate of speed eastbound on Ratzer Road and initiated a traffic stop at Ratzer Road and Mayfair Drive, Martin said. As the officer exited his marked vehicle, the motorcycle sped off.
The officer didn't follow the motorcyclist, who sped past stopped school buses, due to the volume of traffic but he broadcast a description of the motorcycle to surrounding patrol units.
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Moments later, a 911 caller reported a motorcycle crash in the area of 1400 Ratzer Road and that the driver, who appeared injured, fled on foot but left behind his shoes.
Polifrone responded the scene where he confirmed the motorcycle in the roadway was the same one he had observed earlier, Martin said. Patrol units began scouring the area for the motorcyclist when Officer Damien Esposito saw an individual matching the 911 caller's description -- as the man was without shoes and appeared to be bleeding from his right arm, he said.
The motorcyclist, who was later identified as Varelis, refused to comply with officers and began struggling to get away but he was ultimately placed in custody, Martin said.
He was taken and later admitted to St. Joseph's Medical Center in Paterson for treatment of injuries sustained in the motorcycle crash.
Esposito was transported to Chilton Hospital for a check-up because he was covered in Varelis' blood and sustained a slight injury to his right hand, Martin said. The officer was later released from the hospital.
Information on Varelis' bail or additional complaints wasn't immediately available, Martin said.
Justin Zaremba may be reached at jzaremba@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @JustinZarembaNJ. Find NJ.com on Facebook.
