LINCOLN, Neb. (KLKN) — A 24-year-old Maryland man, Ian Ayotte, is facing multiple charges after he led police on a motorcycle chase and was later caught hiding in a hotel room.
The incident began around 2 a.m. Tuesday, when a Nebraska State Trooper attempted to stop a motorcyclist in the Lexington area. The pursuit was eventually called off when the suspect evaded capture.
Several hours later, around 11 a.m., a Kearney Police Department officer spotted a suspicious motorcycle parked near an Interstate 80 off-ramp. After running the vehicle identification number, the officer learned the motorcycle had been reported stolen in Utah.
State troopers confirmed that it was the same bike involved in the earlier chase. Using a suspect description, the officer checked with a nearby Best Western Inn, where staff identified Ayotte as a current guest.
When officers attempted to confront Ayotte at his hotel room, he initially said he was getting dressed but never opened the door. Moments later, he escaped through the window and fled on foot.
A hotel staff member alerted police, who pursued Ayotte across a 1,600-foot field until he finally surrendered.
According to police, Ayotte had test-driven the motorcycle from a Facebook Marketplace listing, but never returned it. He also spray-painted it black to conceal its identity.
Ayotte has been charged with:
Felony theft
Resisting arrest
Obstructing a peace officer
He is currently being held at the Buffalo County Jail on a $150,000 bond and is scheduled to appear in court on October 1.
