BATON ROUGE, LA — A 25-year-old St. George man is facing multiple charges after Baton Rouge police say he led officers on a dangerous chase through East Baton Rouge Parish on a 4-wheeler, then posted video of the run on social media.

Jayden James was arrested Thursday in connection with the pursuit, which began when an officer saw him driving the off-road vehicle in the wrong lane without a helmet and passing other vehicles just before 5 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 5, according to Baton Rouge police.

Officer spotted a wrong lane ride before the pursuit began

Baton Rouge Police Department officials said the encounter started on Alaska Street, where an officer saw the driver coming north toward the patrol unit. The department said the rider was in the wrong lane, was not wearing a helmet and was passing vehicles as he approached.

When the officer turned on emergency lights, police said the driver tried to swing around the BRPD unit and performed a donut, leaving the 4-wheeler facing the opposite direction. From there, officers said, the situation quickly escalated into a chase along city streets.

Police say James ignored signs and signals across several streets

According to the affidavit cited by BRPD, the pursuit continued from Alaska Street to W. McKinley Street, where James allegedly ignored a stop sign and drove over the speed limit. Police said he later ran a red light, drove in the wrong lane to pass another vehicle and moved onto a sidewalk near Thomas H. Delpit Drive.

Authorities said the rider then cut between two vehicles, failed to stop at E. McKinley Street and Thomas H. Delpit Drive, and ran another red light before crossing over no-passing lines and heading west on Terrace Street. Police said the sequence showed repeated disregard for traffic controls in a busy area.

The chase ended in a field after a near collision on Terrace Street

BRPD said James then traveled the wrong way on Terrace Street and nearly struck another vehicle. The officer following him eventually lost sight of the 4-wheeler after it entered a field, ending the immediate pursuit.

Police described the ride as a fast-moving and hazardous flight through intersections, sidewalks and lanes of traffic. The affidavit says the 4-wheeler’s movements put other drivers at risk as the rider moved through the area.

Social media videos helped investigators identify the rider

Investigators later learned that video of the chase had been posted on Instagram and YouTube. BRPD said those posts helped officers identify James as the person on the 4-wheeler.

Police also said James told them the 4-wheeler had been stolen. The affidavit does not say whether investigators have confirmed that claim, but it does say the social media posts became a key part of the identification process.

Jayden James faces charges tied to the chase and vehicle rules

James was charged with aggravated flight from an officer, off-road vehicles authorization, maximum speed limit, traffic control signals, avoiding an intersection, driving on a roadway laned for traffic, safety helmets, vehicle license required, and stop signs and yield signs penalties for violations.

The charges reflect both the alleged attempt to escape police and the traffic violations BRPD says occurred during the pursuit. The arrest came on Thursday, days after the Saturday afternoon chase and after officers connected the social media footage to the rider they were seeking.