A motorcycle bearing the phrases “come get me” and “I will run” became central to a pursuit involving an 18-year-old West Palm Beach rider, according to deputies. The encounter began near Okeechobee Boulevard and Military Trail, where Palm Beach County sheriff's deputies tried to stop two motorcycles; the rider later left his bike and ran through residential backyards before he was caught.
The riders did not stop, according to WPEC. The station reported that they sped through traffic, popped wheelies and weaved between cars on wet roads, while a PBSO helicopter tracked one motorcycle.
Motorcycle Crashes in Palm Beach County
The Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles recorded 489 motorcycle crashes in Palm Beach County in 2024, compared with 452 in 2023—an 8.19% increase.
Crash Records Near the Stop
For the intersection where deputies tried to stop the motorcycles, The Palm Beach Post, citing Palm Beach County traffic statistics, reported 84 crashes at Military Trail and Okeechobee Boulevard in 2022. That figure covers crashes at the intersection and is not a motorcycle-specific count or a record of this incident.
Bike Abandoned, Chase Continues on Foot
According to the station's account, the rider left the motorcycle near Michigan Place and South Robbins Drive and ran. Deputies followed him through several residential backyards as he jumped fences, then caught up with him in a fenced yard, where he surrendered.
Investigators identified the rider as Zachary Stephens, an 18-year-old West Palm Beach resident. The affidavit cited by the station says the person who lived in the yard where Stephens was caught did not know him and had not given him permission to be there.
False Name, Ski Mask Add to Charges
According to the affidavit, Stephens initially gave deputies a different name and date of birth, allegedly using a friend's identifying information. Investigators also found that the motorcycle was unregistered and had no license plate, and that Stephens had neither a valid driver's license nor a motorcycle endorsement. The report says he wore a black ski mask during the encounter.
The listed charges include fleeing and eluding, burglary of an occupied dwelling, reckless driving, resisting an officer without violence and providing false identification. Stephens also faces charges related to operating an unregistered motorcycle, driving without a valid license or motorcycle endorsement, and wearing a mask during the alleged crimes.
What Comes Next
Stephens is scheduled to appear in court on October 21, 2026, at the Palm Beach County Criminal Justice Complex.
