Officer rams vehicle to end chase through Kalispell

A Kalispell woman is in the Flathead County Jail after a high-speed chase through Kalispell early Tuesday morning involving several county Sheriff’s Office vehicles.

Ashley Jean Morse is facing one felony count of criminal endangerment that was filed Thursday. She is being held without bail. Her arraignment is scheduled for Aug. 2.

According to the affidavit of probable cause, at about 12:35 a.m., Tuesday, a deputy attempted to stop a 2001 Pontiac Grand Am driven by Morse on South Woodland Drive. A report in the county 911 dispatch log indicated the Grand Am nearly hit the deputy’s patrol vehicle before the stop was attempted.

Documents state that Morse didn’t stop and led the deputy on a high-speed chase. Additional law enforcement attempted to stop Morse by positioning their vehicles at the intersection of North Meridian Road and West Idaho Street, but she managed to drive between the vehicles, the report states.

The chase ended shortly after on North Meridian when a law enforcement officer rammed the Grand Am with a patrol car, according to the affidavit.

Call log information indicated Morse drove as fast as 90 miles per hour in the chase that lasted about seven minutes.

Morse faces a maximum term of 10 years in state prison and a fine of up to $50,000.

Reporter Scott Shindledecker can be reached at (406) 758-4441 or sshindledecker@dailyinterlake.com.