שארפאטאן יאגט זיך צום נעקסטען פראטעסט

WAXAHACHIE, Texas (AP) — The Reverand Al Sharpton had the ride of his life in Texas -- when his local driver led sheriff's deputies on a nine-mile chase at speeds up to 110 miles an hour before state troopers stopped the car.

Authorities say the driver was rushing Sharpton to the airport after he met with anti-war activist Cindy Sheehan yesterday outside President Bush's ranch in Crawford. The car carrying Sharpton and two others was clocked doing 110 mukes an hour in a 65 mile zone on Interstate 35 in North Texas.

Lieutenant Danny Williams said the car ignored attempts to pull it over and continued speeding and weaving in and out of traffic before it was stopped.

Calls to Sharpton's office and his attorney were not immediately returned.

Deputies arrested Jarrett Barton Maupin, of Phoenix. Maupin told the officers he was hurrying to get Sharpton to the airport.

Williams said his officers offered Sharpton and the others ride to a hotel across the highway, but they declined and walked there instead.

Maupin posted $1-thousand dollars in bonds on charges of evading arrest with a vehicle and reckless driving