MISSOULA – A man is in custody after a high-speed pursuit that started in downtown Missoula and ended in Idaho.
Michael W. Murray, 34, of Spokane, Washington, was taken into custody without incident. He is currently on felony probation out of the State of Washington.
The incident began when Missoula Police initiated a traffic stop just before 3:30 p.m. on Thursday in the 200 block of East Broadway.
Missoula Police department spokesman Sgt. Travis Welsh told MTN News that there were three people in the SUV at the time of the stop; a female driver and two male occupants.
One of the males was allowed to leave the scene. The woman was outside the vehicle talking to police when the other male occupant, later identified as Murray, got into the driver’s seat and took off.
Sgt. Welsh says at the time of the traffic stop they were investigating if Murray had an outstanding warrant.
Police and Missoula County Sheriff’s Office deputies pursued the suspect through Missoula County.
The chase went through the northside and onto I-90 westbound toward Idaho before Murray made a U-turn on the I-90, took the Petty Creek exit in Alberton and continued to drive on Petty Creek Road. He eventually turned onto US Highway 12 west of Lolo and headed into Idaho.
Missoula law enforcement ended their pursuit when Murray crossed Lolo Pass on US Highway 12 and continued into Idaho. A U.S. Forest Service agent picked up the chase and continued to follow Murray.
The Grangeville Police Department in Idaho County told MTN News that the pursuit ended when Murray crossed spike stripes and was stopped at mile marker 120 on Highway 12 over 50 miles west of Lolo Pass.
Sgt. Welsh says they can’t confirm specifics on the warrant or why police initiated the traffic stop as it’s all under investigation. Murray is currently being held at the Idaho County Jail on the charge of felony eluding. He will also be facing charges pending out of Montana.
(8.23.15 report)
MISSOULA – The Grangeville Police Department confirmed to MTN News that a male is in custody following a high-speed pursuit that spanned Missoula County on Thursday afternoon.
The pursuit ended when the driver hit spike strips and was stopped at mile marker 120 on Highway 12, just over 50 miles west of Lolo Pass.
7:05 p.m. — More details have been released regarding a high-speed pursuit that ran through Missoula County on Thursday.
Missoula Police Department Sgt. Travis Welsh tells KPAX that police initiated a traffic stop at 3:25 p.m. Thursday on the 200 block of East Broadway.
Welsh reports that there were three occupants in the vehicle: a female driver and two male occupants. One of the males was allowed to leave.
The female driver was outside the vehicle talking to police when the other male occupant got into the driver seat and took off.
Welsh says that at the time of the traffic stop they were investigating if the male occupant, who has not been identified, had an outstanding warrant.
Police and Missoula County Sheriff’s deputies pursued the suspect through Missoula County. The pursuit went through the Northside, onto Interstate 90 westbound before the suspect made a U-turn on the interstate and took the Petty Creek exit in Alberton. The suspect drove on Petty Creek Road, then to Highway 12 north over the Idaho border.
Missoula law enforcement ended their pursuit when the suspect crossed Lolo Pass on Highway 12 into Idaho. Welsh says a U.S. Forest Service agent continued the pursuit in Idaho. As of 7 p.m. KPAX is unable to confirm if the suspect has been arrested in Idaho.
Welsh says they can’t confirm specifics on the warrant or suspect or why police initiated the traffic stop, as the incident is under investigation.
Welsh said he would have more information to release Friday.
5:46 p.m. — Missoula County Sheriff’s Office spokesperson Brenda Bassett says that the suspect in Thursday’s high-speed chase is from Washington state.
Bassett says the suspect, who has not yet been identified, was wanted for a probation violation out of Washington.
The suspect was pulled over in a traffic stop at the intersection of Front Street and Higgins Avenue in downtown Missoula at around 3:30 p.m. Thursday.
Bassett says city and county officials have ended their pursuit, since the suspect crossed into Idaho. The Idaho State Police have continued the pursuit on Highway 12.
5:37 p.m. — Numerous law enforcement agencies were involved in a high speed chase with a suspect that started Thursday afternoon in downtown Missoula.
The pursuit started about 3:30 p.m. and went through Missoula’s Northside neighborhood before heading west on West Broadway.
The pursuit then went on I-90 westbound with speeds reaching up to 110 mph at one point. The suspect somehow made a U- turn then went east on Interstate 90 before taking the Petty Creek exit in Alberton.
The suspect continued along the two lane Petty Creek Road before intersecting with Highway 12. As of 5 p.m. the suspect crossed Lolo Pass heading into Idaho.
At about 5:30 p.m. authorities said they were no longer pursuing the suspect.
KPAX has reached out to the Missoula Police Department and the Missoula County Sheriff’s Office for more information about the incident.
