Suspect in high-speed chase enters innocent plea

The Daily Inter Lake

A Kalispell man has pleaded innocent to leading law-enforcement officers on a high-speed pursuit northwest of Kalispell before crashing his car at the intersection of Bald Rock Road and Rhodes Draw.

In court on Thursday, Jeremy Dante Howard, 27, entered not guilty pleas Thursday to felony criminal endangerment, eluding a police officer, driving on a suspended or revoked license, and driving without insurance.

The last three charges are misdemeanors.

According to court documents, Montana Highway Patrol troopers responded to Farm To Market Road on Feb. 18 to investigate reports of two cars racing.

When a trooper neared the scene about 10:45 p.m., one of the vehicles - a light-colored Mitsubishi with California plates - raced past West Valley School at speeds reaching more than 100 mph

The second vehicle allegedly racing, thought to be a smaller sport utility vehicle, never was located.

The trooper, who was unable to match the fleeing car's speed, lost the suspect near the Ray Kuhns Wildlife Management Area.

Police later found the car westbound on Church Drive, but the driver - later identified as Howard - again fled from troopers and Flathead County Sheriff Mike Meehan, but this time at speeds greater than 140 mph.

Officers pursued the vehicle from Church Drive southbound onto Bald Rock Road, where Howard lost control and rolled the car at the Rhodes Draw intersection.

Before his arrest, Howard was taken to Kalispell Regional Medical Center where he was treated for an injured back and minor cuts and bruises.

He also was taken into custody on an outstanding warrant from Lewis and Clark County.

A passenger - who told investigators that Howard kept repeating, "Sorry for doing this' - was not injured.

If convicted of all charges, Howard could be sentenced to more than 11 years in prison and fined more than $50,000. His trial is scheduled for the June jury term.