Dec 21, 2012 2 min read

North Franklin Township police Officer Rodney Bush was stopped on Franklin Farms Road about 5:40 p.m. Wednesday behind another vehicle waiting at a traffic signal when he spotted two men, one standing and the other on a bicycle, at the intersection with West Chestnut Street.

“The next thing he sees is the one guy without the bike starting to push up the sleeves of his shirt and going into a fighting stance,” said police Sgt. Dean Urbanic.

“He pushed the guy with the bike. Jumps on it and rides east on West Chestnut Street.”

When the light turned green, Bush asked the victim, identified as Jonathan C. Baker, 27, of Washington, if his bike had just been stolen. When Baker said yes, Bush turned went after the alleged thief, later identified as Wilco Lee McClain, 18, of 135 Jollick Manor, Washington.

The driver of the car in front of Bush’s cruiser also saw what was going on and made a move to stop McClain from getting away. As the driver went east on West Chestnut, he put on his turn signal and turned into the BP station, effectively blocking McClain and allowing Bush to nab him when he pulled up.

Baker told Bush he was waiting to cross Franklin Farms at the light when the other man approached him, said he was going to take his BMX bike and rolled up his sleeves.

Baker told Bush he didn’t want to get involved in a fight, so he let McClain take the bike.

McClain complained of an asthma attack and was checked at the police station by Washington Ambulance and Chair personnel. He refused to go to the hospital. Charges of robbery and theft will be sent by summons from the office of District Judge Robert Redlinger.

Police returned the bike to Baker.

“I believe this is the department’s first bikejacking,” Urbanic said.