(Photo released by Shell Lake P.D. in September when seeking public's assistance to identify driver of this motorcycle)
A St. Paul, MN man is scheduled to appear on February 16, 2017 in Washburn County Circuit Court for felony charges stemming from a high-speed chase that occurred on September 2, 2016.
Maxwell Lee of St. Paul, MN has been charged with 2nd Degree Recklessly Endangering Safety, a Class G Felony, and Vehicle Operator Fleeing or Eluding Officer, a Class I Felony.
According to public records obtained and reviewed by DrydenWire.com a State Patrol officer observed a motorcycle traveling north towards Shell Lake, WI on Highway 63 well above the posted speed limit. The officer clocked the motorcycle at 134 miles per hour (mph) just south of the Shell Lake High School on Highway 63, and the officer activated the squad car's emergency lights.
The driver of the motorcycle initially slowed and appeared to be preparing to stop, however, then the driver looked back at the squad car and instead accelerated on into the City of Shell Lake.
A Shell Lake Police Department officer saw the motorcycle as it came into Shell Lake, and the squad car's radar indicated the motorcycle was traveling at over 100 mph (the posted speed limit in Shell Lake is 25 mph). The Shell Lake Police Department officer saw the motorcycle veer around an individual in a wheelchair attempting to use the crosswalk to cross State Highway 63 in Shell Lake, and the motorcycle continued north on Highway 63 at a high rate of speed toward Spooner, WI with officers in pursuit.
Officers observed the motorcycle at times traveling northbound in the southbound lane and running other vehicles off the road. The pursuit of the motorcycle was suspended.
On September 3, 2016, Shell Lake Police Department received a tip confirming that this same motorcycle had been observed in Cumberland, WI, exhibiting the same dangerous driving behavior. The driver of the motorcycle had stopped at Kwik Trip in Cumberland and used a credit card to purchase gasoline.
The subsequent investigation by the Wisconsin State Patrol and the Shell Lake Police Department revealed that Maxwell C. Lee, of St. Paul, MN was the owner of the credit card used at the Cumberland Kwik Trip and the registered owner of the motorcycle. Upon contacting the St. Paul, MN Police Department, the Wisconsin State Patrol and the Shell Lake Police Department discovered that Lee had reported the motorcycle stolen on September 2, 2016. Lee did not report his credit card or his helmet as being stolen.
A search warrant was obtained and when officers executed the warrant at Lee's St. Paul residence, officers located both Lee's credit card which was used at the Kwik Trip in Cumberland and Lee's blue motorcycle helmet which appeared to match the helmet observed on the driver of the motorcycle.
If convicted of these charges, Lee could face a maximum of 13 years and 6 months in prison.
DrydenWire.com reminds our readers that individuals charged with a crime are presumed innocent until convicted by a judge or jury.
Last Update: Jan 19, 2017 8:47 am CST
