Ross James Golden, 19, of Manatee County.
There are two things you shouldn’t do on a motorcycle: speed and play chicken with a deputy.
A 19-year-old Manatee County man allegedly tried to do both while cutting between construction barrels on Upper Manatee River Road, Thursday. which was being patrolled by a Sheriff’s deputy.
Ross J. Golden, 19, of Manatee County was charged with assault on a law enforcement officer, as well as fleeing an officer and possession of cocaine. He is being held on bonds totaling $11,500.
The Sheriff’s Office said Golden entered a lane closed to traffic on a bend along Upper Manatee River Road between 3rd Avenue Northeast and Gate Creek Road. The officer activated his blue lights and got out of his MCSO truck to flag down the man on a “black ninja-style” sports bike to stop, the Sheriff’s Office said.
The man, identified as Golden, sped up and drove toward the deputy at a high rate of speed “like he was playing chicken,” the deputy said in the report.
The deputy stepped aside to avoid a collision with the motorcyclist, who sped away.
The deputy did not pursue the motorcycle because “he would have been to reckless to pursue,” the deputy said in the report.
A witness later reported seeing a motorcycle crash in the 12900 block of Upper Manatee River Road, and the operator leave the scene on foot. They described the vehicle that helped remove the motorcycle to the Sheriff’s Office.
The information led the Sheriff’s Office to a home in the 700 block of 132nd St. Circle NE in Manatee County where the damaged black motorcycle was found on a walkway near a home. The tires on the sports bike were found to be bald.
A woman who answered the door allowed Sgt. Noordzy to enter the home, where he confronted Golden who was arrested. The woman said Golden did not live there.
Upon being arrested, Golden allegedly attempted to hand a pack of cigarettes to a friend. The cigarettes were seized and found to have .2 grams of cocaine, the Sheriff’s Office said.
Golden was charged with false imprisonment and two counts of domestic battery in August 2015. Those charges were later dropped.