Laurel Man Arrested After Pursuit on Motorcycle on Hwy 35

At about 9:00 p.m. on Thursday night the Stanton County Sheriff’s office was notified that a motorcycle had fled a traffic stop in Wayne County near Hoskins. The fleeing motorcycle was observed as it entered Stanton County on Hwy 35 driving with no headlights or taillights at high speed. A pursuit was initiated as the motorcycle continued south on Hwy 35 and continued to accelerate at high speeds. The motorcycle then entered the four-lane portion of Highway 35 and began driving southbound in the northbound lanes against oncoming traffic. The motorcycle continued driving south and then drove through the east ditch onto Old Hwy 35 and entered Woodland Park. The motorcycle was then abandoned, and the operator fled on foot. Shortly after the operator was identified and subsequently was taken into custody by the Sheriff’s office near his Norfolk residence on North 2nd Street at about 9:45 p.m. Austin Warburton, 19, of Laurel was then booked and jailed on a felony charge of Operating a Motor Vehicle to Avoid Arrest, Willful Reckless Driving and having No Motorcycle License. Additional charges are possible in Wayne County. Warburton’s bond was set Friday morning at $10,000.00 in Stanton County Court.

Austin Warburton