HEMET: Motorcyclist arrested after high-speed pursuit
James Hamilton is placed into a patrol vehicle after his arrest. John Strangis photo
HEMET – A motorcyclist was arrested after he led City of Hemet police officers on an early-morning high-speed pursuit Sunday, Jan. 15.
The suspect was later identified as 21-year-old, James Douglas Hamilton. After he was apprehended by officers, he was booked into Southwest Detention Center on suspicion of two counts of recklessly evading police officers and violation of probation.
The pursuit began about 5:50 a.m., after a Hemet police officer attempted to conduct a traffic enforcement stop in the area of Stetson Avenue near the intersection of Kirby Street.
Hamilton refused to yield and sped away from officers on his motorcycle.
During the pursuit, Hamilton rode in an extremely reckless manner, without regard for other citizens or pursuing officers. While fleeing from officers, Hamilton reached speeds in excess of 70 mph and he was seen riding on the wrong side of the roadway into oncoming traffic.
Hamilton’s motorcycle seen down in the roadway where he fled on foot. John Strangis photo
Hamilton eventually fled westbound on Stetson Avenue until he reached California Avenue, where he either crashed or dumped his motorcycle. He then fled on foot northbound into nearby fields.
Officers quickly began converging on the area and immediately established a perimeter on the area. When Hemet PD’s K9 handler arrived, officers began conducting a yard-to-yard search for the rider.
With the K9’s assistance, officers quickly located Hamilton hiding inside a barn on a private property.
When officers attempted to take Hamilton into custody he resisted arrest and had to be physically subdued.
Hamilton’s motorcycle was stored as evidence and he was booked into jail.
An online jail records search revealed Hamilton is being held in lieu of $100,000 bail and he is scheduled to be arraigned at an unspecified court Jan. 19.
Anyone with information regarding this incident or arrest is encouraged to contact Hemet police officials at (951) 765-2400. Callers can refer to incident file number 17-467 and can remain anonymous.
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Trevor Montgomery spent 10 years in the U.S. Army as an Orthopedic Specialist before joining the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department in 1998. He was medically retired after losing his leg in an off-duty accident.
During his time with the sheriff’s department, Trevor worked at several different stations, including the Robert Presley Detention Center, the Southwest Station in Temecula, the Hemet Station, and the Lake Elsinore Station, along with many other locations.
Trevor’s assignments included Corrections, Patrol, DUI Enforcement, Boat and Personal Water-Craft based Lake Patrol, Off-Road Vehicle Enforcement, Problem Oriented Policing Team, Personnel and Background Investigations and he finished his career while working as a Sex Crimes and Child Abuse Investigator.
Trevor has been married for more than 26 years and was a foster parent to more than 60 children over 13 years. He is now an adoptive parent and has 13 children and 12 – soon to be 13 – grandchildren.