ATV chase lands Flathead ex-con in jail

A Flathead Valley resident with a string of convictions for violent offenses is facing more charges after an incident involving a stolen all-terrain vehicle and a police chase.

Jeremiah Wayne Rupert, 30, is charged with two felonies, criminal endangerment and theft. He is lodged in the Flathead County Detention Center on $40,000 bail.

Rupert is scheduled to appear in Flathead County District Court Feb. 8 for a status hearing.

According to a charging document, the Kalispell Police Department received a call about a stolen Yamaha Grizzly ATV in September from an address on First Avenue East. About 90 minutes later, a Flathead County Sheriff’s Office sergeant saw the vehicle driving erratically on Shady Lane. It was behind a pickup towing a trailer, then drove off the shoulder and passed the truck at a high rate of speed.

The officer then attempted to stop the ATV, but it allegedly drove through a red light at the intersection of Shady Lane and Montana 35. The driver, later identified as Rupert, turned on to Helena Flats Road and failed to stop at three different intersections at speeds of up to 65 miles per hour.

The ATV then drove across the field, became tangled in a fence, flipped and the driver fell off. Other units responded and the man soon turned himself into authorities, according to the charging document.

Rupert’s first felony convictions in Flathead County occurred in 2009 when he pleaded no contest to two counts of assault with a weapon and guilty to one each of negligent endangerment and drug possession. Rupert was accused of throwing lit explosive devices at law officers and others during a July 4 celebration in Hungry Horse. He was sentenced to 12 years with seven suspended.

Later, in September 2009, prosecutors said Rupert was trying to shoot a man over a $100 debt but missed and shot a woman in the neck and upper arm.

Rupert pleaded no contest to two felony counts of assault with a weapon and one charge of misdemeanor possession of a dangerous drug.

He was sentenced to five years in prison.

The woman injured in the shooting sued Rupert and won a default judgment of $461,120.

In 2010, a traffic stop resulted in more legal problems after Rupert was found in possession of methamphetamine.

Rupert served time in the Montana State Prison and other state facilities for substance abuse treatment before being paroled in 2013.

But issues with drug and alcohol use caused more trouble for Rupert, resulting in more jail time. His parole officer also reported a traumatic brain injury he suffered when he was a juvenile.

Scott Shindledecker may be reached at sshindledecker@dailyinterlake.com or 406-758-4441.