A Rockford man has been charged with first-degree murder after police accuse him of chasing down a motorcycle rider who he believed stole his motorcycle and forcing it off the road in a fatal crash .

Winnebago County Sheriff's Department deputies arrested Jose E. Olivencia III, 40, of Rockford, on charges of first-degree murder.

The charges come after deputies discovered a man later identified as Mark Gesswein dead after they say the motorcycle he was riding had been forced off the road before 9:38 a.m. Sept. 5 in the area of West State Street and Monroe Street by a red minivan.

Deputies say Olivencia had discovered two of his motorcycles were stolen earlier the day. Police say he began driving around the city attempting to locate them, according to a news release.

When he found one,

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