The Rev. Al Sharpton's travel plans through Ellis County were interrupted Sunday afternoon after sheriff's deputies took his driver into custody.
"Sgt. Jeremy Osteen clocked the vehicle going 110 in a 65 mph zone," sheriff's Lt. Danny Williams said of the incident, which began at about 2 p.m. near the Forreston rest area on Interstate 35.
"At that point, Sgt. Osteen attempted to catch the vehicle, which continued at a high speed, weaving in and out of traffic," Williams said.
The chase continued for about nine miles to about the 400-mile marker, where Department of Public Safety troopers had set up, Williams said. "The troopers were waiting and were able to get in front of the vehicle and slow it down. The vehicle finally came to a stop at the 401-mile marker, which is at (U.S. Highway) 287 Business." The driver, Jarrett Barton Maupin, 43, of Phoenix, Ariz., was taken into custody without incident. He has since posted bonds totaling $1,000 on two charges: evading arrest/detention with a vehicle and reckless driving.
Maupin told the officers he was in a hurry trying to get Sharpton, a former New York senatorial candidate who vied for the Democratic presidential nomination in 2004, and two other passengers to the airport. Sharpton had been in Crawford earlier in the day to visit with Cindy Sheehan, who lost a son in the war with Iraq. Sheehan has been leading a several weeks long protest near President George Bush's ranch.
The vehicle, a 2005 Lincoln, was impounded after deputies contacted its owner, a rental car company.
"Avis officials requested that we impound it," Williams said.
"They (the vehicle's other occupants) were offered a ride to the hotel across the highway, but they declined and said they would walk."