Local News in Brief : Fountain Valley : Motorcyclist Trying to Retrieve Bike Arrested

A Fountain Valley man wanted on a $10,000 drunk-driving warrant was arrested Thursday when he tried to claim his motorcycle, which had been abandoned and impounded after a 130-m.p.h. police chase Feb. 1.

Paul Barless, 23, was arrested after police ran a routine warrant check, CHP Officer Mike Lundquist said. Barless was being held Thursday in the Orange County Jail. Lundquist did not have any details on the drunk-driving charge.

According to Lundquist, CHP Officer Joe Morrison clocked a motorcycle rider at 130 m.p.h. on the northbound San Diego Freeway near Euclid Avenue but lost the speeding rider when he exited on Beach Boulevard. The bike was abandoned near a Fountain Valley car dealership and impounded by police.

Police sent Barless, the registered owner of the motorcycle, a letter requesting that he appear for an interview in order to retrieve the motorcycle. When he appeared at 4:50 p.m. Thursday, he was arrested, Lundquist said.

A friend who had accompanied Barless to the police station was permitted to take the motorcycle. If police can prove that Barless was driving the motorcycle during the Feb. 1 chase, he will also be charged in connection with that incident, Lundquist said.