Ishemer Ramsey

A motorcyclist led Butler police on a chase through several city streets late Sunday night before officers were able to box him in, thwarting his getaway, authorities said.

But the suspect, Ishemer D-Wain Ramsey, 21, of Butler was not ready to give up, according to court documents.

Police said they had to forcibly take Ramsey off the cycle and onto the ground where he was handcuffed.

No one was injured in the incident, but one of the police cruisers was damaged when the cycle fell onto it.

The defendant was arrested and arraigned on a felony charge of fleeing or attempting to elude police. He also is charged with resisting arrest and reckless driving. He is free on $25,000 bail.

Police Lt. Brian Grooms said he was seated in a patrol car at a parking lot on West Cunningham Street about 11:15 p.m. when he heard a motorcycle “accelerate quickly to my left.”

He looked toward Pillow Street and spotted an eastbound orange cycle passing a vehicle in the oncoming lane on Cunningham Street. The bike sped past the officer.

Grooms activated his emergency lights and siren as he tried to stop the motorcycle. But the suspect ran the red light at West Cunningham and South Main streets, documents said, and soon had turned onto South Monroe Street.

Two other officers joined in the chase, police said, and a short time later in the area of South Monroe and East Jefferson streets, they had Ramsey blocked in — and stopped.

However, he allegedly refused to get off the bike. Officers teamed up to take him down.

But while removing him from the motorcycle, it fell and hit the left front bumper of one of the police cars, causing minor damage.