Highway chase ends in arrest of fugitive

A police pursuit through Evergreen and east Kalispell Tuesday ended in a three-car collision and the arrest of a fugitive from Ohio.

William Darrell Sweeney, 27, is charged in Flathead County with criminal endangerment and reckless driving. It is not yet known what Sweeney was wanted for in Ohio.

The pursuit began when Flathead County sheriff's deputies attempted to stop Sweeney on U.S. 2 near the intersection of Rose Crossing. He initially pulled over for deputies, but fled southbound on U.S. 2 when additional squad cars arrived.

As the pursuit neared Kalispell, Kalispell police deployed spike strips on U.S. 2 near Wal-Mart in Evergreen and shredded the van's two driver's side tires. Despite missing two tires, Sweeney continued into Kalispell at about 25 mph.

As the van entered the intersection of East Idaho Street and Fourth Avenue East North, it crossed into the eastbound lanes and collided with two cars stopped next to each other in the road in front of the Smith's grocery store parking lot.

The van hit a Chevrolet Impala nearly head on and crunched the left front corner of a Lexus SUV.

Sweeney exited the crippled van through the passenger side door and took off on foot across the Smith's parking lot.

As he ran, Sweeney dropped a pistol, said Kalispell Police Chief Roger Nasset.

Officers caught up to him in the southwestern corner of the parking lot near Third Avenue East North. One officer shot Sweeney with a Taser and another tackled him, Nasset said.

The arrest occurred shortly before noon.

"Unfortunately, not all the time do we have the luxury of just letting somebody go," said Nasset, explaining the decision to pursue Jefferson. "It's very evident by the outcome that this individual was very dangerous."

The driver and sole occupant of the Impala was taken to Kalispell Regional Medical Center as a precaution, police said. The driver and sole occupant of the Lexus was apparently not injured.

Sheriff's deputies, Montana Highway Patrol, and Kalispell police officers all participated in the chase.

Reporter Nicholas Ledden can be reached at 758-4441 or by e-mail at nledden@dailyinterlake.com