Motorcyclist Takes Police On Long Pursuit

A 21 year old man on a motorcycle took police on a long pursuit Saturday evening that stretched into Jefferson County at one point. The motorcycle, driven by Mark Saul, failed to stop at a stop sign at the intersection of Mulberry and Woodlawn in Newport. When Newport police attempted a traffic stop, Saul took off at a high rate of speed, traveling in the opposite lane of traffic. The pursuit wound up on westbound Hwy 25/70, stretching from downtown Newport across the Jefferson County line and to State Route 113, where Saul then got onto Interstate 40 heading Eastbound. Speeds of the motorcycle were believed to have been nearly 140 mph on I-40. Saul then took exit 432 and traveled onto Clevenger Cut-Off Road and onto Carson Springs road, driving at high speed in the opposing lane of traffic. Saul then got onto Eastbound Hwy 25/70 reaching speeds in excess of 100 mph. Saul then jumped off his motorcycle at the Memorial Baptist Church on West Broadway. He was soon apprehended by police. Saul faces a long list of charges that include Drag Racing, Reckless Endangerment, Reckless Driving and Evading Arrest.