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Fugitive motorcyclist arrested
nichols randall l
Randall Nichols - photo by Submitted
A 53-year-old motorcyclist accused of fleeing authorities last week faces several felony and misdemeanor charges.

Forsyth County Sheriff’s deputies arrested Randall Lanier Nichols of Elmo Road on Friday night, four days after he eluded capture during a chase.

Nichols has been charged with aggravated assault on a police officer, fleeing and attempting to elude and two counts of possession of methamphetamine.

He is being held without bond at the Forsyth County Detention Center, a jail spokeswoman said.

According to a sheriff’s report, Nichols was on probation for marijuana possession at the time of his arrest.

In addition, he has been charged with displaying an obscured license plate, possession of marijuana, reckless driving and violation of probation.

Nichols was identified as the driver of a motorcycle who fled a Memorial Day traffic stop on Pilgrim Mill Road.

According to a sheriff’s report of the May 31 incident, “The driver attempted to elude deputies at speeds up to 80 miles per hour.”

At one point during the chase, the report said, “the pursuing deputy’s patrol car left the road and went into a ditch.” Neither of the two deputies in the vehicle or their canine partner were injured.

The report shows that another deputy remembered stopping a similar motorcycle in 2009. After reviewing video footage of that encounter, Nichols’ identity was confirmed.

An off-duty sheriff’s investigator saw Nichols sitting in a vehicle Friday night at a convenience store on Matt Highway and Bannister Road.

Deputies responded and arrested the suspect without incident.

Capt. Mark Flowers, commander of the sheriff’s north precinct, said the arrest was the result of good communication between deputies and community Neighborhood Watch groups.

“We’re glad to have apprehended him quickly,” Flowers said.