April 23, 2016 while on radar patrol in Lake Lure, Officer Ryan Bailey witnessed a motorcycle with two riders, traveling at a high rate of speed. When Officer Bailey attempted to initiate a traffic stop, the motorcycle driver in an attempt to elude police, began traveling at speeds from 100 to 110 miles per hour, weaving in and out of traffic and passing vehicles in no passing zones. The chase lasted through Lake Lure’s winding Memorial Highway just past Bills Creek Road when the driver of the motorcycle raised his hand motioning Officer Bailey he was ending his attempt to elude and pulled off to the side of the road.
Officer Bailey arrested John Michael Nickelson for Driving While Impaired, Speeding, Flee/Elude Arrest with a Motor Vehicle and Carrying a Concealed Gun. John Michael Nickelson of Statesville North Carolina had two hand guns one on his person and the other in the motorcycle saddle bag.
“Officer Bailey did an impeccable job protecting Lake Lure Saturday,” said Chief Humphries, “His alert action to getting a reckless driver off the road could have ended poorly, but his quickness and in both getting the driver to cease the chase as well as the search of both the driver and motorcycle, made this a successful stop all the way around.”
