Chase suspect pleads innocent

The man who led law enforcement officials on a nine-mile chase from near Somers to north of Kalispell on March 25 pleaded innocent to two charges Thursday in Flathead District Court.

Abram Schilling, 26, faces up to 11 years in prison for a felony charge of criminal endangerment and a misdemeanor count of eluding a police officer filed by the Flathead County Attorney’s Office on March 29.

His court-appointed attorney, Vicki Frazier, entered pleas on Schilling’s behalf before District Judge Ted Lympus.

Schilling is being held in the Flathead County Detention Center with bail set at $50,000.

He was arrested near Lawrence Park after speeding away from a traffic stop as a sheriff’s deputy approached his vehicle along U.S. 93 north of Somers at about 8:30 p.m.

Schilling drove between 100 and 120 miles per hour toward Kalispell during the initial minutes of the pursuit, according to court documents.

He was traveling at about 90 miles per hour as he approached the city limits and slowed to 40 miles per hour as he drove through the heart of Kalispell, according to court documents.

Schilling lost control of the truck while passing Buffalo Hill Golf Course and swerved through yards and into a ditch after spike strips deflated the front two tires of the vehicle.

Deputies used a Taser to stop Schilling when he attempted to run from the scene, according to court documents

Flathead County Sheriff Chuck Curry said drugs, which he declined to identify specifically, were found along the road after the chase, but additional charges have not been filed.

Schilling was on probation at the time of his arrest after receiving a six-year suspended sentence for felony criminal endangerment in Lewis and Clark District Court in 2010.