Sandpoint man leads police on high-speed chase

SANDPOINT — A Sandpoint man led police on a high-speed motorcycle chase through the city Friday night in what police believe was a planned and staged event.

According to police reports, Andrew J. Rockwell, 19, of Sandpoint, eluded Sandpoint police and Bonner County Sheriff’s deputies for nearly 10 minutes as he drove his Honda motorcycle at speeds upward of 90 mph.

“We chased him throughout the city at pretty high speeds with multiple units from both agencies involved. He ran all over town, through downtown, around and back through residential neighborhoods,” said Sandpoint Police Chief Mark Lockwood.

The chase ended when officers lost Rockwell on Pine Street, but with the help of digital in-car video units and witness reports, he was captured later that night at his Syringa Heights home.

The motorcycle did not have a license plate and had an LED flashlight affixed to its front fender.

Officers obtained a search warrant and found a similar LED flashlight and discarded duct tape at Rockwell’s home.

After interviewing several individuals who witnessed the chase from the Safeway parking lot, officers came to the conclusion that the entire pursuit was planned in advance to entertain Rockwell and his friends.

“Finally, through conversations with one cooperating witness, we determined that this pursuit was a planned and staged event wherein people were actually gathered at the Safeway parking lot to witness the police chase,” Officer Darren Osborn said in an affidavit.

Two witnesses — a 20-year-old male and 19-year-old female — gave written statements to police which indicate they agreed to follow Rockwell into town. However, they denied any involvement in the episode.

Osborn also reported that text messages found on Rockwell’s phone made reference to the pursuit and the duct tape evidence.

Charged with felony eluding, Rockwell’s bail was set at $5,000 during a Tuesday court appearance.