FLAGLER COUNTY, Fla. – Authorities in Central Florida apprehended a man following an unusually sluggish chase early on Friday morning, as reported by the Flagler County Sheriff’s Office.
According to their statement, the incident unfolded at approximately 2:23 a.m. when a deputy observed a blue motorcycle lacking both lights and a license plate.
“To clarify, the deputy didn’t initially see it,” the release humorously noted. “She heard its loud, unfiltered backfiring well before catching sight of it.”
The sheriff’s office described the vehicle as a “rusty parts bike resembling a weed-eater motor,” playfully nicknamed “Blowby Betty” by the deputies.
Although deputies attempted to stop the driver, he made a leisurely attempt to evade them, as evidenced by dash-camera footage shared by the sheriff’s office.
The release further clarified, “Let’s be honest, this was not a pursuit in the traditional sense. A chase suggests speed, which this was not. It was more akin to a guided neighborhood tour, peaking at a lively 40mph before settling into a gentle 15mph through Hidden Trails Park, with the bike audibly struggling.”
Eventually, the driver — identified as Brian Swartz, 33, of Bunnell — toppled over, pinning Swartz’s shin to the ground, deputies added.
He was subsequently arrested and now faces charges of fleeing and operating without a driver’s license. Following his arrest, he was released on bail of $2,800, jail records show.
“Blowby Betty was seized and towed to impound, where she can finally get some rest,” the sheriff’s office announced. “The takeaway: fleeing from law enforcement is a dangerous, deadly and terrible idea at any speed. Don’t attempt the impossible, especially on a motorcycle that can be outrun by a brisk jog.”
Deputies also said that Swartz has been arrested 16 times since 2016 over charges including street racing, credit card fraud, failure to register a motor vehicle, fleeing or attempting to elude law enforcement, grand theft of a motor vehicle, and more.
He’s also reportedly served several sentences in state prison.
“The list of things this guy has been arrested for goes on longer than a CVS receipt,” Sheriff Rick Staly said. “Sadly, it seems the Green Roof Inn has become a second home for him.”
