Reckless motorcyclist arrested

A 54-year-old Sarasota, Florida man was arrested Thursday for recklessly driving a motorcycle in Marathon.

Mark Raymond Piersall was charged with reckless driving, DUI and DUI with a blood-alcohol level of .15 or higher.

Deputy Corbin Hradecky received a be-on-the-lookout call at 7:43 p.m. for a black sport-style motorcycle southbound on U.S. 1 in Marathon.

Deputy Hradecky spotted a motorcycle that matched the description and got behind it near 55th Street. The already speeding motorcycle accelerated to 78 mph in a 45 mph zone. Deputy Hradecky activated his lights and siren in an attempt to perform a traffic stop.

The motorcycle, identified as a Kawasaki Ninja ZX-14R, began passing vehicles causing other motorists to slam on their brakes to avoid collisions. The driver, later identified as Piersall, nearly lost control of the motorcycle at one point and stopped near 41st Street.

Sgt. Ben Elmore and Deputy William Guerra also responded. Piersall appeared to be heavily intoxicated as he nearly fell down several times. Piersall failed field sobriety exercises. Piersall registered a .187 on the alcohol breath-sensing machine.

Piersall was taken to jail.

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