Suspect arrested in police chase charged with dealing meth
Eric Christopher Appl. (Photo courtesy the Flathead County Sheriff's Office)
A man arrested during an Election Day police chase through Kalispell is accused of dealing methamphetamine.
Eric Christopher Appl, 39, faces felony counts of criminal endangerment and criminal possession of dangerous drugs with intent to distribute in Flathead County District Court following his Nov. 5 arrest. He is expected to appear before Judge Amy Eddy for his arraignment on Nov. 14.
Authorities are holding Appl at the county jail with bail set at $200,000.
The pursuit began after Kalispell Police officers recognized Appl -- who had an outstanding warrant for his arrest -- at a gas station at about 11:34 a.m., according to court documents. Appl allegedly fled as officers attempted a traffic stop.
The subsequent chase took authorities through residential neighborhoods home to schools and past the Flathead County Fairgrounds, the site of a busy polling location on Election Day, court documents said. Officers estimated that Appl hit speeds of 60 mph in residential areas and 50 mph in school zones. He allegedly ran 29 stop signs and three red lights during the chase.
Officers ended the pursuit using what is known as a precision immobilization technique or PIT maneuver. In a PIT maneuver, an officer bumps a fleeing vehicle in an attempt to force it to turn sideways and come to a stop.
Appl unsuccessfully attempted to flee on foot, court documents said.
At the request of Appl's probation officer, authorities searched the vehicle driven by the 39-year-old, according to court documents. Opening a backpack left on the vehicle's front floorboard, investigators allegedly found a baggie emblazoned with dollar signs containing 3.21 grams of a white crystalline substance suspected of being methamphetamine.
They subsequently found several unused baggies and an electronic scale in the backpack, court documents said.
Criminal endangerment carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in Montana State Prison and a $50,000 fine. Criminal possession of dangerous drugs with intent to distribute is punishable by up to 20 years behind bars and a $50,000 fine.
News Editor Derrick Perkins can be reached at 758-4430 or dperkins@dailyinterlake.com.