Chase ends in crash, arrest

A high-speed police chase early Friday morning ended near the Flathead County Fairgrounds in Kalispell.

Arthur Lee Palmer, 29, was arrested and a female passenger was taken into custody after the car crashed and the two attempted to flee on foot.

A 911 call at 12:36 a.m. on Friday reported a suspicious vehicle parked behind a church on Evergreen Drive. The Volvo station wagon had been there around 20 minutes and people kept climbing in and out of the car.

As Flathead County sheriff’s deputies approached the vehicle, the car sped out of the parking lot. Officers chased the car, reaching speeds of 80 miles per hour heading west on U.S. 2 through Kalispell.

Near the intersection of U.S. 2 and U.S. 93, Kalispell Police Department officers joined the chase.

The vehicle made a sharp turn near the fairgrounds, spun out and crashed.

Palmer had a warrant out for his arrest, according to Kalispell Police Administrative Capt. Wade Rademacher.

Palmer was arrested for two counts of theft, burglary, and driving under the influence, according to Flathead County Detention records.

“It was over pretty darn quick,” Rademacher said. “Basically in the time it takes to drive through Kalispell, officers were able to apprehend them.”