Butler police arrested a motorcyclist early this morning but not before he led officers on a more than 13-mile high-speed chase in and out of the city. The suspect, 21-year-old Anthony Lee Harris of Butler, ran several red lights and stop signs and maneuvered over sidewalks in his failed getaway bid, police said. Harris was placed in the Butler County Prison to await arraignment on numerous charges including fleeing or attempting to elude police, reckless endangerment, driving with a suspended license and a list of traffic violations. A police report noted that Harris has nine prior convictions for driving under suspension. The chase began about 11:55 p.m. Tuesday when a patrol officer spotted an orange, Yamaha motorcycle speeding on Main Street near Jefferson Street. Police estimated the cycle was going 50 to 60 mph. The officer activated his emergency lights and siren but the biker did not stop. Harris turned east onto East Wayne Street and south onto Center Avenue, where he ran his first red light, police said. The cycle traveled onto a sidewalk and ran another red light at Freeport Road. He drove on several other streets and then tore through the Butler County Ford car lot at Main and Wayne streets, sped over a sidewalk and then south onto the General Butler Bridge, police said. The chase continued into Butler Township at “extremely high speeds,” according to the police report. A stopped township police car in the area of Route 8 and Hansen Avenue caused Harris to slow down on Route 8. The Butler police officer was able to get in front of and stop the cycle. Harris got off the bike and ran into the woods, but was quickly caught.
