Teens charged with felony theft

The Daily Inter Lake

Two teenagers were arrested after allegedly stealing a car in Kalispell, leading officers on a chase, and ultimately crashing the vehicle near Columbia Falls.

Charged with felony theft are Nicholas Winzenburg, 18, and Gerald Burghduff, 16.

Winzenburg also was charged with a probation violation from a juvenile charge.

They allegedly stole a red 1994 Pontiac Grand Am that was left running outside Walgreen's after midnight.

Kalispell police put out a description of the car. About an hour later, a sheriff's deputy saw it and attempted to stop it near Columbia Falls, but the driver took off at about 40 mph, according to the Flathead County Sheriff's Office.

Just before the bridge, the passenger reportedly bailed out on Meadow Lake Boulevard, and the deputy continued following the vehicle.

The driver failed to make a turn onto Tamarack Drive and crashed the vehicle into a power pole, tipping the vehicle over.

No one was seriously hurt, though Columbia Falls Ambulance was called, and the vehicle was towed.

The passenger was later arrested.