Cell phone conversation gives away suspect’s hiding spot

A suspected motorcycle thief was apprehended in Spotsylvania Thursday morning after a deputy heard him talking on a cellphone while he was hiding in the bushes, police said.

Spotsylvania Sheriff’s Capt. Mike Harvey said Deputy Rocco Wahl went to the area of Peach Tree Drive and Blossom Wood Court about 10 a.m. in response to a tip from Stafford authorities that someone who had just left Stafford on a stolen motorcycle might be in that area.

Stafford Sheriff’s spokesman Bill Kennedy said his office got a complaint regarding a loud argument at a restaurant in North Stafford. He said during that investigation, police received information that one of the people involved in the argument had a revoked license and was possibly on a stolen motorcycle, and the information was passed onto Spotsylvania.

Wahl saw a man and a motorcycle matching the descriptions put out by Stafford and tried to stop it. Following a brief pursuit, the man got off the motorcycle and ran. Wahl pursued him but briefly lost sight of him.

Spotsylvania deputies were surrounding the area and waiting for a police dog to arrive when deputies heard whispering coming from the bushes. The suspect was apprehended and taken into custody without incident.

Harvey said two additional stolen motorcycles were found at the suspect’s nearby residence in the subsequent investigation.

Hurley Lee Dement, 21, of Spotsylvania was charged with felony eluding, possession of stolen property, driving on a revoked license, operating a motorcycle without a valid motorcycle license endorsement, having a fictitious vehicle registration and failure to stop at a stop sign.

Dement was placed in the Rappahannock Regional Jail under no bond.

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