Relentless man chases suspect

After allegedly attempting to steal a pickup Monday, a man was chased down by the truck’s owner, who, despite getting stabbed twice, was able to detain the suspect until authorities arrived.

Kalispell police arrested Dennis Cartwright, 47, on charges of assault with a weapon and theft of a motor vehicle.

According to Kalispell Police Det. Kevin McCarvel, a man left his truck running for a few minutes in the parking lot of a business complex on Airport Road near the intersection with U.S. 93.

Leaving the office that evening, he was surprised to see the truck exiting the parking lot without him.

He chased the truck, jumped into the bed and called Kalispell police on his cell phone. 

Cartwright allegedly ditched the truck near the 1100 block of Third Avenue West and fled on foot. But the truck’s owner pursued him after grabbing a handgun he had in the cab.

A chase ensued through city streets. The victim stayed on the phone with dispatchers, giving a play-by-play to police.

Gaining on Cartwright, the victim yelled at him to stop.

But the suspect refused to cooperate and allegedly brandished a knife.

So the pickup owner pulled his gun out of its holster.

In the ensuing scuffle, he was stabbed twice in the arm.

The suspect took off running again, with the truck’s owner still in pursuit. Seeing his assailant ditch the knife, the victim gave the location to police, who later recovered the weapon.

Finally exhausted after the mile-long chase that ended at the intersection of Fourth Street and 10th Avenue West, Cartwright slowed enough for the victim to finally catch and hold him until officers arrived.

The victim was treated at Kalispell Regional Medical Center for his injuries and released.

The stolen pickup was recovered, processed and returned to its owner.

Cartwright is in the Flathead County Detention Center pending his initial court appearance.