Columbia Falls businessman critical of high speed chase
A Columbia Falls businessman says police should drive slower in car chases on Highway 2 than they do now, especially after a high-speed chase a few weeks ago where a man stole a pickup truck and led the Flathead County Sheriff’s deputies around town .
Vernon Kiser, a real estate agent at Remax Mountain View in Columbia Falls, said he saw the chase from his shop as MPs drove through town at high speed on Highway 2.
He estimated they were going 80 to 90 mph as they chased after the man.
Kiser said he wasn’t an “anti-cop” but he thought the speeds were just inconsiderate.
Sheriff Brian Heino did not respond to a request for comment, but in an email to Kiser, Patrol Commander Nic Salois explained the department’s view of the incident.
“The three patrol vehicles you were watching were on their way to assist another deputy who was involved in a vehicle chase at Hungry Horse,” Salois said. “The proxy involved in tracking the vehicle was alone and needed help to react quickly as this type of incident can be dangerous for many reasons, not only to the public but also to law enforcement agencies. Our agency’s policy for emergency driving essentially copies the definitions in Montana Code Annotated 61-8-107, which specifies what police and other emergency vehicles can do when operating with emergency lights and sirens. In your complaint, you state that the police vehicle drove recklessly and negligently through Columbia Falls, particularly on Ninth Street by your Sixth Avenue office, turning itself on and off the traffic and speeds. After watching the video, even though the speeds were increased for the actual speed limit, we felt that our deputies were in control of their vehicle and were aware of the conditions at the time.
“All of our cars had emergency lights and sirens on, which still resulted in most of the traffic not giving way and or not pulling right and stopping as it should. For this reason, we have to drive in opposite lanes and often pass cars parked on the left-hand side. This activity may get out of hand, but it is common and well trained. All the MPs in the block east of your office slowed down as the traffic jam got worse, ”said Salois.
MPs later called off the persecution, citing security concerns.
The alleged thief, Theo Old Chief, 31, of Browning was tracked down by the Two Bear Air helicopter over Maria’s Pass in Glacier County.
Kiser claims the police should have a speed limit through town, say 45 miles per hour, even on car chases.
But the law doesn’t actually allow that.
It states that the driver “may exceed the speed limit as long as the driver does not endanger life or property”.
However, if something goes wrong in a car chase, law enforcement agencies don’t have blanket immunity either.
“The provisions of this section do not exempt the driver of a police or rescue vehicle from the obligation to drive, taking into account the safety of all persons, and do not protect the driver from the consequences of careless disregard of the driver for the safety of others,” says the law.
From Salois’s point of view, the MPs acted accordingly.
“All of our patrol agents have dozens of hours of training in emergency vehicle driving, and that experience grows the more years they do the job. I am confident that our Members will be able to operate a police vehicle with great skill, a skill that is more advanced than the rest of the drivers. Skills that are more advanced and more under control than the hundreds of people who choose to drive restrictedly on our roads in this county every day. While I understand your concerns, I also hope that you can trust us and our ability to do our jobs safely. In my more than 18 years with this agency, we have never violated the property of innocents or their property while operating our vehicles. Nevertheless, the deputies involved in this incident were made aware of your complaint and your perception of your driving style. They will continue to do their best to ensure the safe operation of their vehicles, ”Salois wrote to Kiser.