Crime & Safety
Gulfport Man Allegedly Led Police on Chase, Manhunt
Police say the man led several officers on a chase, reaching speeds up to 50 mph and eventually crashing the motorcycle he was driving.
Editor’s note: John Barnes pleaded guilty to three reduced misdemeanors: reckless driving, trespass in structure or conveyance and driving while license suspended or revoked.
A Gulfport man led several Gulfport police officers on a chase, running several stop signs, speeding and eventually crashing his motorcycle at 62nd St. S. and Gulfport Blvd. S., according to arrest reports.
According to Pinellas County arrest reports, John Nicholas Barnes, 22, of Gulfport, was spotted driving 50 mph in a 30 mph zone. After ignoring traffic signs and crashing a white Suzuki motorcycle, officials say, he took off on foot. The chase happened around 11:30 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 7.
Police say Barnes ran and hid in the backyard of a home on the 6200 block of Gulfport Blvd. S. Barnes was found after officers called in K9 deputies for help, according to arrest reports.
Barnes was arrested on the following charges: resisting an officer without violence, leaving the scene of a crash involving injury, burglary of a dwelling, reckless driving, driving while driver's license suspended/revoked, decal not assigned, and tag not assigned.
Barnes posted $8,900 for all eight charges the following day.
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