The pursuit began at 1:19 a.m. when state police Sgt. K.E. Plumer initiated a traffic stop for speeding in a highway construction area on W.Va. 9 near the Opequon Bridge, according to a West Virginia State Police news release.
The motorcyclist continued on W.Va. 9 past the Veterans Affairs Medical Center and was making hand signals as if he was going to pull over, state police 1st Sgt. Eric Burnett said.
The motorcyclist pulled over on Short Road near the Comfort Suites motel but continued east on W.Va. 9, Burnett said.
Plumer was joined in the chase by officers from the Jefferson County Sheriff's Department and the Ranson and Charles Town police departments, state police said.
The motorcycle exited W.Va. 9 at the interchange with U.S. 340 near Charles Town and went north on U.S. 340, Burnett said.
The motorcyclist had slowed down when Tiong and another officer passed it and attempted to further slow it down near Bakerton Road, Colbert said.
The motorcyclist attempted to go around the left side of Tiong's car and struck it, Colbert said.
Police said in a news release that Biddinger was wanted in Frederick, Md., on charges of failure to appear for driving suspended, driving revoked, and hit and run.
After speaking with the Montgomery County (Md.) Police Warrants Division, officials discovered that Biddinger had active warrants on the following charges: resisting arrest, attempt by driver to elude a uniformed police officer by failing to stop, attempt by driver to elude police in an official police vehicle by failing to stop, driving motor vehicle on highway on a suspended license and driving motor vehicle on revoked license, state police said.
Although Burnett said he and his department's internal affairs section will investigate the chase to make sure Plumer followed department guidelines, it appears Plumer followed procedures.
Colbert said it appears Tiong followed the sheriff's department's guidelines on pursuits, although the incident will be reviewed.
Burnett said his department will review videotapes of the incident that came from Plumer's car and from Ranson Police, Charles Town Police and Jefferson County Sheriff's Department cruisers as part of its investigation.
