Man accused of killing motorcycle thief in Rockford chase

ROCKFORD, Ill. (WTVO) — A Rockford man is accused of running down and killing a man suspected of stealing his motorcycle, according to law enforcement.

According to the Winnebago County Sheriff’s Office, deputies were called to the scene around 9:30 a.m. on Friday, September 5th, in the 100 block of Monroe Street, near Ingersoll Golf Course.

There, they found the driver of the motorcycle, Mark Gesswein, 45, dead at the scene.

According to investigators, earlier that day, Jose E. Olivencia III, 40, discovered that 2 of his motorcycles had been stolen, and began driving around the city in his red minivan, in an attempt to locate them.

Police said he spotted Gesswein driving one of his motorcycles and began to chase him. During the chase, police said Olivencia attempted to knock Gesswein off the roadway, resulting in the fatal crash.

Olivencia has been charged with First Degree Murder.

He was booked into the Winnebago County Jail on Saturday and then released following a Pretrial Detention Hearing in accordance with Illinois’ Pretrial Fairness Act. He is due back in court on November 6th.