BELLE — A high-speed pursuit involving a stolen motorcycle traveled through Belle and into Bland on the evening of March 6 before the suspects fled on foot into a wooded area, according to Belle Marshal Jerry Coborn.

The incident began shortly before 7 p.m. on Friday when a pursuit involving a black motorcycle was reported in Phelps County near the line with Maries County along U.S. Highway 63 South.

According to Coborn, authorities in Phelps County discontinued their pursuit at the Phelps and Maries county line after the motorcycle turned onto Missouri Highway 28 and headed toward Belle. Officers in Maries County were advised to be on the lookout for the vehicle, which was last reported near Highway 28 and the airport.

Coborn positioned his patrol vehicle along Highway 28 and soon observed the motorcycle traveling through the area with two riders. Although the motorcycle was traveling at the posted speed limit, Coborn noted the vehicle did not have a license plate.

Coborn activated his emergency lights near the intersection of Alvarado Avenue and Highway 28. The motorcycle accelerated and the pursuit continued west on Highway 28 toward Bland.

During the pursuit, the motorcycle reached speeds of approximately 130 miles per hour before slowing to around 80 miles per hour.

“The motorcycle slowed to approximately 80 miles per hour as the driver realized they could not outrun me and took a side street in Bland,” Coborn said.

The suspects eventually turned onto a dead-end road where they abandoned the motorcycle and ran into a wooded area.

Coborn said he chose not to pursue them into the woods due to safety concerns and instead waited for backup to arrive.

Officers recovered the motorcycle, both helmets and a backpack the night of the incident.

Several agencies responded to assist with the search, including the Missouri State Highway Patrol, deputies from Gasconade County, the Missouri Department of Conservation, the Osage County K-9 unit and the Maries County Sheriff’s Office.

Despite the search effort, the suspects were not located that night. However, investigators recovered evidence that helped identify the individuals involved.

Inside the backpack, officers located a birth certificate identifying the female suspect as the mother of a child. The document helped investigators identify the suspect as Michaela Pikey, who was later matched with surveillance footage from a gas station in Bland.

At approximately 6:30 a.m. March 7, Maries County Dispatch contacted Coborn after Gasconade County Deputy Bigalow reported that the Bland gas station had video footage of two individuals entering the store around that time covered in mud.

Coborn reviewed the footage at 12:58 p.m. the same day.

“That is when we went and watched the video cameras and were able to positively identify the two that came in wet and muddy,” Coborn said. “Machaela Pikey and her boyfriend Zachary Adam, both living at Cedar Hill.”

Authorities learned the two had briefly been at a family member’s residence in Bland earlier that morning but had already left by the time officers had arrived.

Coborn said they also learned the motorcycle had been reported stolen out of Paducah, Ky., and that both suspects had suspended driver’s licenses and prior criminal records.

Pikey is believed to have family members living in Bland, including two sisters and her mother. Officers contacted relatives in the area during the investigation.

“One family member said yes, she was there. Another chose not to comment and refused consent to search the property,” Coborn said. “The mother was not home at the time.”

Coborn said stop and hold warrants will be issued for both suspects through Maries and Phelps counties for felony fleeing and possession of a stolen motorcycle.

Authorities ask anyone with information about the suspects’ whereabouts to contact the Belle Police Department or their local law enforcement agency.