Speedy motorcyclist faces high-speed chase charges

A motorcyclist accused of leading a deputy on a high-speed chase on South and Central Whidbey last year is facing charges in Island County Superior Court, court documents indicate.

Melvin Costa, a 37-year-old Marysville resident, pleaded not guilty March 7 to attempting to elude a pursuing police vehicle, driving under the influence, driving while license suspended or revoked, possession of marijuana and use of drug paraphernalia.

Deputy Darren Crownover with the Island County Sheriff’s Office was patrolling Highway 525 on South Whidbey Nov. 2, 2010 when he clocked a motorcycle traveling at 99 miles per hour in a 55 mph zone, according to his report on the incident.

Crownover wrote that he attempted to pull the motorcycle over, but it accelerated away while traveling northward. The motorcyclist continued at a high rate of speed and passed cars over double-yellow lines.

Finally, Crownover was able to drive up beside the motorcycle. He rolled down his window and yelled to the motorcyclist, later identified as Costa, to pull over. Costa finally complied near the intersection with Cox Road, Crownover wrote.

The deputy wrote that he found a pipe with suspected marijuana in Costa’s pocket and that breath tests showed Costa’s blood-alcohol level was over the legal limit.

Contact Whidbey News Times Assistant editor Jessie Stensland at jstensland@whidbeynewsgroup.com or 360.675.6611 ext. 5056.

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