Holmes Beach police arrested Ellenton resident Michael Singer, 35, May 6, accusing him of 11 criminal charges, including three felonies and eight misdemeanors.
The charges are headlined by a second-degree felony for fleeing to elude law enforcement and two third-degree felonies for possession of a controlled substance without a prescription.
The misdemeanor charges include:
- Two first-degree misdemeanors for obstruction of law enforcement without violence and possession and/or use of drug equipment;
- Six second-degree misdemeanors for loitering and prowling, driving with an expired driver’s license, driving with a license that has been expired for more than six months, operating a motorcycle without a valid license, attaching an unassigned license plate and having no motor vehicle registration.
An officer found two people riding a dirt bike with no lights in the 3900 block of East Bay Drive around 5:16 a.m. and attempted to conduct a traffic stop, according to a police report.
Police say the bikers failed to yield and accelerated away from the officer, driving offroad, as well as through parking lots and bushes.
The officer gave chase and followed until the bikers lost control of the dirt bike on 75th Street West.
A woman riding on the back of the bike stayed on the scene, but the driver, Singer, jumped a fence.
The officer was joined by backup and the two officers chased Singer on foot and deployed tasers to immobilize him.
The officer arrested Singer and during a search of Singer’s bike, officers found a satchel containing 148.3 grams of marijuana, a sticky wax substance that tested positive for marijuana, as well as two smoking pipes.
Singer was taken to the HCA Florida Blake Hospital in Bradenton, where he was medically evaluated.
He then was taken to the Manatee County jail, where he remained in custody as of May 15 under a $8,970 bond.
If convicted, punishment for a second-degree felony charge includes up to 15 years in prison, 15 years of probation and a fine of up to $10,000.
Punishment for a third-degree felony charge includes up to five years in prison, five years of probation and a fine of up to $5,000.
Punishment for a first-degree misdemeanor charge includes up to one year in jail and punishment for a second-degree misdemeanor charge includes up to 60 days in jail.
An arraignment will be at 9 a.m. Friday, June 20, at the Manatee County Judicial Center, 1051 Manatee Ave. W., Bradenton.