A Schuylkill County man was jailed Thursday after police say they stopped him riding a stolen motorcycle that had to be hot-wired to start.
Police in Saint Clair say they witnessed a black motorcycle drive past them at Russel and Second streets at about 8:15 Thursday night. The motorcycle had a vertical license plate, which police say they couldn’t read.
The driver, police say, saw the patrol vehicle, turned his head, and then sped away, west on Russel St.
Police say they pulled out from their stationary position and followed the motorcycle, witnessing it commit several traffic violations before pulling out onto Route 61 North and speed up once again.
At a traffic light, police were able to get a clear view of the plate on the bike and noted that it was reported stolen by Reading Police Dept. This prompted police to initiate a traffic stop.
The driver identified himself as Ryan Achey, 31, of New Ringgold. Police say they informed him that the motorcycle he was riding was reported stolen.
Achey reportedly told police that he was test driving the motorcycle and that his friend have given him the bike more than two months ago to repair it. He could only remember one name of this alleged friend – whom he identified as “Galano” – and didn’t know his phone number, just that the bike was dropped off at his house.
When police called a tow company to remove the bike from the scene, they asked Achey how to start the bike. Achey reportedly told them that they had to turn the key and then touch a red and black wire together. Police say when they did this, the bike started immediately.
Achey was arraigned before Magisterial District Judge David Plachko Thursday night and charged with theft and receiving stolen property, both felonies, along with a misdemeanor offense of unauthorized use of a motor vehicle, and numerous summary traffic offenses.
Plachko set bail at 10% of $10,000 and remanded Achey to Schuylkill County Prison. Court records show that Achey has not yet posted bail, as of this publication.
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