‘Wheelie on the freeway!’: Biker does tricks, goes 100 mph, runs out of gas in Oakland County

FARMINGTON HILLS, Mich. – A motorcyclist fleeing police did wheelies and doughnuts and reached 100 mph before running out of gas in Oakland County.

Dearborn police said they tried to stop a 26-year-old Dearborn man at 11:48 p.m. Tuesday, April 9, 2024, because he was doing wheelies and doughnuts around one of their patrol cars.

“That motorcycle’s now behind me, trying to antagonize me,” an officer said over the radio. “He just passed me up on a wheelie.”

The motorcycle fled north on M-39, and Michigan State Police started to follow him with a helicopter.

“He’s coming through Michigan (Avenue) right now,” a trooper on the helicopter said. “He’s doing a wheelie on the freeway. Very nice.

“Through Memorial, eastbound on Joy. Alright, he’s crawling. I don’t know if he ran out of gas or not. ... Looks like Redford tried to initiate a stop. He just took off, doing 100 down Beech Daly.”

Aerial footage showed the motorcycle speeding down roadways, turning into parking lots, and avoiding several police cars.

Officials tracked the motorcycle into Farmington Hills, where it ran out of gas.

The man was taken into custody by Farmington Hills police.

Michigan State Police said he will face charges from Farmington Hills, Dearborn, Redford, and the state.

“This suspect risked his own life, lives of other drivers, and the police officers involved in this incident by his behavior,” Michigan State Police Lt. Mike Shaw said. “Great work by all involved to take him into custody without anyone being hurt or killed.”