Suspect in chase arrested in Evergreen

After getting a call from an alert person about a man who allegedly led law enforcement on a chase last week, Flathead County Sheriff’s deputies located and arrested Ryan Ray Denny in Evergreen Sunday.

Denny, 29, initially was spotted near the McDonald’s restaurant on U.S. 2 at about 6:40 p.m. 

Soon afterward he was located behind a nearby casino. He is being held in the county jail on charges including burglary, possession of dangerous drugs, criminal mischief, theft and resisting arrest.

Denny was being sought by the Flathead County Sheriff’s Office after escaping on foot following a vehicle pursuit through Kalispell the evening of Sept. 18.

That incident began when an Eisinger Honda employee in the parking lot of Kmart in Evergreen reported a man was trying to steal a 2011 Chevy pickup the dealership was selling there. The employee managed to run off the man, who was screaming and yelling.

After abandoning his attempt to steal the truck, the man jumped into a Ford Explorer and drove away.

A deputy caught up to the vehicle on Whitefish Stage Road. The man then led law enforcement on a pursuit during which he ran several stop signs, swerved into opposing lanes and took out mailboxes before exiting town on U.S. 2 West.

He drove to Spruce Hollow Trail and to a forest road, where he got stuck and fled on foot into a heavily wooded area.