San Angelo Biker Sentenced for Fleeing Cops on a Motorcycle

SAN ANGELO— A San Angelo man was sentenced recently for evading arrest from a police officer on a motorcycle.

Michael Escobedo, 19, was sentenced to deferred adjudication for evading officers on an illegal motorcycle. 

According to court documents, on March 20, 2023, a San Angelo police officer was working the Traffic Safety Program when he observed a 2008 Yamaha 100cc dirt bike motorcycle on the 2800 block of Ben Ficklin Road. The motorcycle had no registration, lighting, and was not supposed be operated on a public roadway.

The investigator attempted to stop the motorcycle and the drive started to evade before the investigator was able to turn on his emergency lights. After he activated his lights and sirens, the driver continued to flee.

Escobedo was followed by the officer through alleys, streets, and vacant lots between houses. The driver of the motorcycle stopped and let his passenger off who identified the driver as Escobedo to the pursuing investigator.

Escobedo temporarily lost the officer until he was located walking out of an alleyway. The investigator stopped Escobedo and observed he was sweaty and out of breath. Without being asked, Escobedo said the motorcycle driver was traveling west, away from the direction he was walking. When the investigator attempted to detain Escobedo, he fled again, only this time on foot and was not captured.

In the alleyway, the investigator located clothing Escobedo had been wearing while evading on the motorcycle as well as the motorcycle itself. Another officer said the Escobedo had recently taken the same motorcycle to Family Powersports for repair.

The VIN number on the motorcycle confirmed it was the same one that had service records at Family Powersports with Escobedo’s name on it. Four other individuals positively identified Escobedo in the body cam footage from the investigator.

Escobedo was arrested on March 23, 2023, and charged with evading arrest with a vehicle, evading arrest, theft of property, unauthorized use of a motor vehicle, and for a grand jury indictment. He was released on June 9, 2023.

Escobedo was in court on May 31, 2023, and was sentenced for four years deferred adjudication.