MISSOULA – A Big Sky High School student involved in a chase with a Missoula school resource officer who shot at his car in March is now being charged as an adult.
Missoula Deputy County Attorney Jennifer Clark said the charge, felony drug possession, must be filed as an adult charge during a Tuesday morning court hearing.
The 17-year-old student was initially charged as a juvenile. But, a future court hearing will determine if the student’s case will be sent back to Youth Court, or if the teen will be charged as an adult.
In court documents, a juvenile probation officer and the Big Sky High School resource officer were conducting a probation search on March 16 after a picture showed the 17-year-old holding a large sum of cash and a gun. Officers suspected the student was involved in dealing drugs.
The student ran out of the school, got into his car, almost striking the SRO before driving away on South Avenue. The officer fired his weapon at the vehicle, blowing out the back window of the car.
While driving on South Avenue, the teen drove up on the lawn near Old Fort Road almost striking a pedestrian before crashing his vehicle a short time later at the Honda dealership on South Reserve Street.
A black 9mm handgun was recovered near Old Fort Road and South Avenue that is said to belong to the teen. Officers also found 2.1 grams of cocaine and over $1,000 in cash. The student admitted he threw the gun out of his car.
The teen has not entered pleas to the two felony counts of criminal endangerment, felony evidence tampering and a misdemeanor for obstructing charges. He’s He’s being held on a petition to revoke probation from prior misdemeanor convictions.
The SRO is currently on paid administrative leave per department policy pending the completion of DCI’s investigation.
