Motorcyclist said to flee police at speed of 100 mph

HADLEY - A motorcyclist led police on a high-speed chase Tuesday night across Hadley before being apprehended in a parking lot.

Stephen D. Orrell, 42, of 2 Amherst Road in Hadley, pleaded innocent Wednesday in Eastern Hampshire District Court to charges of failure to stop for police and negligent operation of a motor vehicle.

According to court documents, at 8 p.m., officer Christopher M. Cacela was observing traffic from the Barn Shops parking lot on Russell Street when he clocked Orrell traveling east at 63 mph in a 40 mph zone. When Cacela tried to pull the motorcyclist over, Orrell reportedly turned down West Street and began weaving in and out of traffic, nearly hitting several vehicles while trying to get away.

During the chase, Cacela reported that Orrell reached speeds in excess of 100 mph and at one point became airborne. After losing sight of the motorcycle, Cacela and several other officers scanned the area for Orrell and eventually located him in a parking lot off Huntington Road, about a mile from where he was last seen, police said.

Judge John Payne Jr. released Orrell on his own recognizance. He is scheduled for a pretrial hearing on Aug. 25.

- OWEN BOSS