An attempt to evade law enforcement ended in a less-than-blazing crash early Friday morning when a Bunnell man tried to outrun the Flagler County Sheriff’s Office on a homemade motorcycle that was missing a few horses from its stable.
A deputy first noticed the makeshift vehicle around 2:23 a.m., though she actually heard its loud, unmuffled backfiring long before she laid eyes on it. Upon locating the blue motorcycle, the deputy observed that it was operating in total darkness with no lights and no license plate. Law enforcement officials described the sad machine as a rusty parts bike powered by a motor that sounded suspiciously like a standard weed eater.
When the deputy switched on her emergency lights to initiate a traffic stop, the rider—later identified as 33-year-old Brian Swartz of Bunnell—decided to make a grand, albeit very slow, bid for freedom.
What followed could hardly be called a high-speed pursuit. According to authorities, the motorcycle topped out at a brisk 40 mph before losing steam and settling into a relaxed 15 mph crawl through Hidden Trails Park. Deputies simply idled along behind the sputtering bike as Swartz took a scenic, low-speed tour down Mahogany, Almond, and Cherry streets.
The slow-motion getaway came to an abrupt end when the motorcycle encountered soft sand. Lacking the necessary torque to push through, the bike toppled over, pinning Swartz’s shin to the ground.
Swartz was taken into custody without further incident, though his ride was officially over. He has been charged with fleeing and eluding, operating a motor vehicle without a driver’s license, and operating a motorcycle without a proper endorsement. The weary motorcycle was seized and towed away to the impound lot for some well-deserved rest.
Records show that this was far from Swartz’s first interaction with local law enforcement. Since 2016, Flagler County deputies have arrested him 16 times. His lengthy rap sheet includes prior charges for street racing, grand theft of a motor vehicle, fleeing law enforcement, operating a motorcycle without a license, possession of cocaine and methamphetamine, and possession of a weapon by a convicted felon. He has also served multiple sentences in state prison.
Reflecting on the suspect’s frequent visits to the local jail, Sheriff Rick Staly didn’t hold back.
“The list of things this guy has been arrested for goes on longer than a CVS receipt,” Sheriff Staly said. “Sadly, it seems the Green Roof Inn has become a second home for him.”
Swartz was transported to the Sheriff Perry Hall Inmate Detention Facility, where he is currently being held on a $2,800 bond—giving him plenty of time to rethink his choice of getaway vehicles.
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