CSI Lifts Finger Prints Off a Stolen Motorcycle and ID Suspect

SAN ANGELO, TX – A San Angelo man was arrested  Tuesday after allegedly getting away from police during a high-speed chase but being found after San Angelo Police Detectives finds finger prints on a stolen motorcycle.

On January 12, San Angelo Police Department Traffic Division noticed a motorcycle having license plates out of Illinois. The officer ran the plates, and determined that they were invalid. This is when the officer attempted to pull over the motorcycle.

Wesley Mitcham, 22, saw the officer and immediately began to flee from him. The chase started at around the 1900 block of Colorado, and continued throughout the 2800 block of Sherwood Way. The officers then called off the chase due to the high risk of public danger.

The officers continued to search for the motorcycle for about five minutes. They found the motorcycle at NAPA auto parts store at the 3200 block of Arden Rd. Police say they made contact with Mitcham at Fiddlestrings but no arrest was made at that time.

On January 18, SAPD contacted the Crime Scene Investigation where they were able to get finger prints that matched Mitcham on the gas tank of the motorcycle.

According to an affidavit a detective from the Tom Green County Sheriff's Office contacted the SAPD about the case and told them about a motorcycle that had been taken for a test ride, but was never returned.

A stolen vehicle report was made on January 28, and the day after Mitcham went to the victims house, returned the key to the bike, and asked that he not pursue any further charges. Police say they were familiar with Mitcham due to him having a prior unauthorized use of a motor vehicle charge in 2015.

Mitcham is currently in the Tom Green County Jail and is charged with evading arrest. His bond is set at $10,000.