Motorcyclist Who Ran From Scene of Accident Arrested

July 6, 2022

(Tybee Island, GA) A man who crashed his motorcycle while fleeing from a traffic stop and then fled the scene on foot has been arrested.

Just after 3PM, an officer with with Tybee Island Police Department attempted to stop a motorcycle for traveling 69 miles per hour in a 30 mile per hour speed zone. At that time, the motorcyclist fled from the traffic stop, running a red light at Highway 80 and Campbell Avenue in the process. As the motorcycle entered the intersection, it was struck by another vehicle, ejecting both the rider and his female passenger from the bike. The rider then got back to his feet and ran from the scene.

As first responders and emergency medical personnel tended to the female passenger, officers searched the surrounding area for the rider. During this time, detectives with the Tybee Island Police Department were able to positively identify him as Chad Cooley.

Shortly thereafter, Cooley called the Tybee Island Police Department and attempted to report the motorcycle as stolen. Using that cell phone number, a Tybee Island Crisis Negotiator made contact with Cooley and learned that he was in the process of returning to a residence on nearby Whitmarsh Island. The negotiator and Cooley then made an agreement for officers to meet him there. Officers with the Tybee Island Police Department relayed this information to their counterparts with the Chatham County Police Department, who responded to the residence and located Cooley as promised.

Cooley was then placed under arrest and booked into custody on the charges of Speeding, Reckless Driving, Fleeing and Attempting to Elude (Felony), Hit and Run, Obstruction and False Report of a Crime.

The female passenger was treated by emergency medical personnel and released from the scene.

The officers of the Tybee Island Police Department would like to thank the Chatham County Police Department and our friends in the social media community for all of their help in this case.