Olivehurst man crashes motorcycle, fights with deputies
An Olivehurst man fought Yuba County sheriff's deputies on Tuesday after crashing his motorcycle on a levee in Linda after he tried to flee, deputies said.
Jason Gorham, 25, was charged with battery on a peace officer and not wearing a helmet.
Gorham was driving his motorcycle through an orchard near the Peach Tree Golf and Country Club when he was spotted by Deputy Brian Hopper around 10:30 p.m, said Yuba County Undersheriff Jerry Read. After trying to evade deputies on a small off-road Honda, Gorham fell, Read said.
A brief fight ensued, but deputies were able to arrest him.
"He was not being terribly cooperative," Read said.
"We took (Gorham) to the hospital to get checked, but he was fine," he said, adding that Gorham was taken to the Yuba County Jail afterward.
Hopper spotted Gorham driving his motorcycle through the orchard with no headlight. The officer tried to contact the motorcyclist, but Gorham took off into the orchard.
The deputy didn't chase him.
"Trying to chase a motorcycle through an orchard in a sedan — it's just not wise," Read said.
A short time later, the deputy again spotted the motorcycle on Simpson Lane near Simpson-Dantoni Road, moments before Gorham crashed on the levee.
Read didn't know why Gorham ran, but noted he was on parole.
In addition to the battery and helmet violations, Gorham was charged with breaking his parole, resisting arrest and having no headlight on his motorcycle.
CONTACT Griffin Rogers at grogers@appealdemocrat.com or 749-4783. Find him on Facebook at /ADgriffinrogers or on Twitter at @ADgriffinrogers.
