Pair plead innocent to chase charges

A pair of Kalispell men allegedly involved in a high-speed chase on Oct. 3 pleaded not guilty to separate sets of charges Thursday in District Court.

Joshua Hermann, 23, is charged with felony criminal possession of dangerous drugs and criminal endangerment plus three counts of felony theft.

Joshua Rosalez, 29, faces felony charges of theft and criminal possession with intent to distribute.

According to court documents, Hermann was at the wheel of a stolen car with Rosalez in the passenger seat when the pair led law officers on a high speed chase that required the use of a helicopter and achieved speeds of more than 90 miles per hour.

Police eventually deployed spike strips to stop the vehicle. Then Hermann and Rosalez fled on foot briefly before being apprehended.

The chase began in Kalispell and ended 40 minutes later 15 miles inside Lincoln County.

Officers searched the vehicle after obtaining a search warrant and located a backpack containing methamphetamine and a bag containing 137.5 grams of marijuana.

Rosalez also was found to have cut off a GPS bracelet that was part of his house arrest on another case. The bracelet apparently had been thrown into a river approximately one week earlier. He had been on house arrest while out on bond on charges of robbery and assault with a weapon related to a May 4 incident involving an attempt to recover drug money.

Both men are being held at the Flathead County Detention Center, where Hermann’s bond is set at $75,000 and Rosalez’s bond is set at $50,000.

Hermann faces up to 45 years in jail and a fine of up to $250,000 if convicted.

Rosalez faces up to 30 years in prison and a fine of up to $100,000 if convicted.