Police nab suspect in high-speed chase
A man charged with leading police on a high speed vehicle pursuit through Kalispell was booked into the Flathead County Detention Center this weekend.
Tyler Greg Sloan, 28, of Kalispell, was charged with Felony Criminal Endangerment on Friday, March 23.
Sloan is also facing the revocation of a suspended sentence for stealing a car in 2014. According to Flathead County Sheriff Chuck Curry, the Kalispell man’s local criminal record dates back to 2002.
Sloan was reportedly out of compliance with the car theft sentence on Nov. 13, 2017 when Montana Highway Patrol Trooper David Mills attempted to pull him over for a speeding ticket. Trooper Mills allegedly clocked the pickup Sloan was driving at 71 mph in a 35 mph zone. But instead of pulling over, the single occupant of the mid- to late-’80s standard cab pickup attempted to elude police. The trooper reportedly attempted to block the pickup when it appeared the driver was going to ram into his patrol car.
“As he was coming out I tried to block his path, but it was evident he was going to drive into me, so I gave him an avenue to get past,” Trooper Mills told the Inter Lake shortly after the incident.
The trooper continued to pursue the vehicle when Sloan allegedly drove up onto the sidewalk, sped through numerous stop signs and hit a parked car. The driver was putting people and property at significant risk, when the Trooper said he decided to end the pursuit.
During the investigation, Mills reportedly learned that a similar vehicle had been involved in a chase in Lincoln County, and Sloan was the suspect in that case. When the Trooper saw Sloan’s photo, he reportedly confirmed it was Sloan who was driving the vehicle.
The Kalispell man was picked up on charges in Lincoln County, then transferred to Flathead County to face his local charges, Sheriff Curry said.
Sloan is being held on charges of criminal endangerment, revocation of suspended sentence, bond revocation, DUI and failure to appear. His case will be heard before Flathead County District Court Judge Amy Eddy. An arraignment date hasn’t been set.
Reporter Breeana Laughlin can be reached at 758-4441 or blaughlin@dailyinterlake.com.