Local airmen among motorcyclists arrested

Twelve motorcyclists, six of them local airmen, were arrested Sunday after they were caught driving in excess of 140 mph on Interstate 10 near Mobile, Ala.

The group was part of the Pacesetters Motorcycle Club. They were on their way to a charity bike ride in Mobile to benefit a 16-year-old girl who'd been diagnosed with cancer.

An Alabama state trooper first clocked the 11 men and one woman at 115 mph just inside the state line. That trooper radioed ahead to an unmarked unit, and by the time the group traveling on performance bikes neared Malbis, they were traveling at more than 140 mph, according to the Alabama Highway Patrol.

"There was no way the trooper could catch up," said Cpl. Joe Piggott with the AHP.

That's when a third trooper in a semi-marked Dodge Charger jumped on I-10 at Spanish Fort to get ahead of the group. The trooper began to try to block traffic along the Mobile Bayway by driving slowly.

"There's not really anywhere to go once you get on the Bayway," Piggott said.

The third trooper managed to get the group stopped and issued all 12 of them traffic citations. They were arrested for reckless endangerment and taken to the Baldwin County Corrections Center, where they were held on $1,000 bond each.

The bikers were caught at about 11 a.m. The charity event was scheduled for noon.

"I think they at least saw the first trooper," Piggott said. "They did pick up their speed, but we don't think they were running."
Piggott described the riders as "nice" and said they joked with the troopers.

"They weren't a bad group, but we can't tolerate that type of speeding," he said.

Hurlburt Field's 1st Special Operations Wing's public affairs office has confirmed Arthur Lee Jones, 41, of Crestview; Andy Michael Galatas, 22, of Fort Walton Beach; Derrick Alan Lawrence, 25, of Fort Walton Beach; and Kristoffer Edwin Davoud Ford, 23, of Mary Esther were among those arrested and are stationed at Hurlburt.

Tyrice A. Thomas, 30, of Crestview and Paul Burney Johnson, 38, of Mary Esther, also were arrested. They are stationed at Eglin Air Force Base, base spokesperson Marie Vanover said.

While Alabama authorities have jurisdiction over the case, Col. Brad Webb, commander of the 1st SOW, said he has several administrative options when it comes to the Hurlburt airmen arrested.

"Bottom line, this type of behavior is not tolerated. Airmen are not only responsible for adhering to state laws, but also for setting an example of good conduct on and off duty," Webb said in an e-mail. "These individuals showed a complete disregard for their own safety and the safety of everyone around them, and we're thankful no one was hurt."

Webb added that breaking the law and violating military standards of good conduct will not go unpunished.

Piggott said the riders are expected to appear in court Oct. 28. If they are convicted, Alabama will notify the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles and point penalties will be charged against the riders' licenses.