PHOENIX -- The executive director of the State Republican Party was arrested at party headquarters on Wednesday on charges of reckless driving and excessive speeding.

Officers from the Arizona Department of Public Safety's Photo Enforcement Unit took Brett Mecum, 30, into custody after they said he was caught on a photo radar camera driving speeding at about 12:38 a.m. on Sunday.

A stationary photo enforcement camera captured Mecum's image as he drove eastbound on State Route 101 near 59th Avenue at a speed of 109 miles per hour, DPS officers said. The posted speed limit is 65 miles per hour.

"I can't think of a reason someone needs to travel in excess of 100 miles per hour here in the metropolitan Valley area," said Lt. James Warriner with DPS. "Not only are you putting yourself at risk, you're putting the general public at risk."

Added Warriner, "If you're going 100 miles an hour in the metro area, you're going to be taken to jail."

Mecum joined the Arizona Republican Party as director of communications in mid-February 2007.

In a statement, Mecum said, "I have no particular memory of the facts nor have I had an opportunity to review any of the evidence in this particular matter. As a consequence, I have entered no plea in this matter. I expect to and look forward to having an opportunity to see all the information DPS has collected and I will evaluate that information prior to entering any pleas in this matter. I have every expectation that this matter will in no way compromise or affect my ability to do my job as executive director of the Arizona Republican Party."

Reporter Jeff Butera contributed to this story.