Biker Arrested After Chase

A Washington State Patrol trooper was injured after chasing a motorcyclist in the Spokane Valley on Friday.

About 7:35 a.m., trooper Eric Hanson tried to pull over a man on a 1993 Suzuki motorcycle who was speeding near Eighth and Eastern. The man didn’t stop and several minutes later turned into a park at Seventh and Park, WSP spokesman Sgt. Chris Powell said.

Hanson ran through the gated area of the park just as the motorcyclist went down on his bike. He resisted arrest and Hanson sprayed the biker with pepper spray, Powell said. Some of the spray went into Hanson’s eyes as he tried to get it past the man’s helmet.

The man continued to fight with Hanson, who finally managed to handcuff him.

He was identified as Roy J. Picou, 21.

Picou was booked into the Spokane County Jail for resisting arrest and eluding police, which is a felony. He also was arrested for driving with a suspended license.

He has 14 failure-to-appear charges pending against him for prior traffic charges, Powell said.

Hanson was treated for minor injuries, including a pulled shoulder, at Sacred Heart Medical Center and released.

, DataTimes