An armed man who led police on a 20-mile chase Monday evening was arrested after colliding with a stopped tractor-trailer on U.S. 93.
Scott Foster, 20, fled from police at speeds of up to 110 mph, said Kalispell Police Chief Roger Nasset.
Police began following the green Ford F-350 south on U.S. 93 at about 5 p.m. after a passing motorist reported Scott as a drunk driver. He was reportedly swerving and driving in the wrong lane of traffic.
Officers attempted a traffic stop at the intersection of U.S. 93 and Cemetery Road, but Scott refused to slow down, said Nasset. Instead, Scott drove south through Somers, turned around, and led police back north on U.S. 93.
Police followed Scott as he made a large loop southwest of Kalispell, turning westbound on Cemetery Road, southbound on Airport Road, and then speeding northbound on Foy's Canyon and Foy's Lake roads at 60 to 70 mph.
From there the pursuit wound through the west side of Kalispell - eastbound on Seventh Street West, southbound on Fifth Avenue West, and eastbound on 11th Street East - until Scott again reached U.S. 93 and headed south.
Spike strips deployed on Foy's Lake Road and in the Four Corners area shredded three of Scott's tires, eventually causing him to lose control of the pickup truck south of Cemetery Road and north of the Gardner RV and Trailer Center.
The pickup truck fishtailed and careened head-first into the side of a stopped tractor-trailer carrying construction equipment. Neither the two occupants of the tractor-trailer nor Scott was injured.
As officers approached Scott, they saw him lean across the seat and pick up a Ruger .44-caliber magnum revolver. Officers yelled at Scott to drop the gun, which he did after an officer broke through his driver's side window.
The gun, which turned out to be unloaded, bounced off the seat and onto the floorboards. Scott also had a shotgun in the back seat, said Nasset.
Investigators determined Scott's blood-alcohol level was twice the legal limit.
"It was one of those situations where letting him go outweighed the risks of catching him and putting him in jail," said Nasset, who could not say what exactly prompted Scott to flee from police.
The crash closed the two northbound lanes of U.S. 93 until about 6:30 p.m. Officers from the Kalispell Police Department, Montana Highway Patrol, and Flathead County Sheriff's Office were involved in the pursuit.
Further information was not available Monday.
BettyBoop
bigford why do you feel the need to carry a firearm in your truck? Why not lock it up when you are not using it?
JMO
He counted 13 police cars. Was every agency in the Valley involved at that time? Are there 13 cop cars out on the road at once at any time, counting kalispell pd, sheriffs office and highway patrol???
bigford
to bettyboop, i carry firearms in my truck mostly because i hunt and where i live i have overpopulated coyotes and other critters that are harmful to my livestock if that answers your question.
BettyBoop
Bigford thankyou, it answered my question. Nothing wrong with hunting, and protecting your livestock!!
andrew121
So is there any evidence that such measures would would reduce DUIs by 90% funinkalispell???
rachelhansen
I was stopped at the intersection of 11th and 1st facing north when a patrol car came towards me and the officer riding passanger jumped from the car, retreived the spike strips from the back seat and thru them into the intersection. the BLACK truck then came flying from my left headed towards hwy 93, missing the spikes but driving with the back passenger tire gone. he was driving on the rim already. so i dont know why they said his tires were popped after he went thru that area. but i am glad he missed those strips at that time cause my sister and I would have gotten completely smashed. why the police thought it was a good idea to pursue him thru the residential area with children walking home and so much traffic is beyond me.
james
another case of wanton disregard of public safety by endangering citizens by the gestapo police with there narrow way of thinking
james
another example of wanton disreguard of peoples saftey, high speed chase in populated area, the cops get my vote for stupidity
Deb
Is it now acceptable to drive drunk and in a dangerous manner, and put into question how the police are expected to handle any given situation? My greatest concern is allowing any and all drunk drivers to continue driving until they cause injury or death to others. This should not be about how law enforcement does their job. It should be about the many drivers who don't take responsibility for their actions and put others in harms way!
bugleum
James, are you kidding me. You would rather see a drunk driver killing someone rather then letting the police do their job and stop it. What a joke. Believe me, the public was well represented yesterday in stopping what could of been a very bad and deadly situation. You truly need to think before you write something like this. COPS GOOD, DRUNK DRIVERS BAD...hopefully now you know this!!
nolamt
I feel the same way as Tattered. I am so sick of hearing about the drunk driving here. This kid isnt even of age to be drinking!! He to im sure will get off light on this. But he did point a gun at an officer so he might get in more trouble for that.Guess well see.
photoguy
I see a 30K plus truck in this picture and I read there was an irresponsible under aged drunk driver, who was armed with two weapons, and someone is blaming the police for getting him off the road? Thats pretty amazing, but I wonder, where did he get the alcohol, and where did he get the expensive truck and WHY was he armed with two weapons, was he planning something else yesterday? Kudo's to the police for protecting the community, and shame on the guy who was driving the truck and like a dumb ass, only thought of himself!
BettyBoop
I am proud that the officers did their job, and that this drunk driver was stopped before he killed someone.
BettyBoop
He was doing more than trying to avoid a dui, he was putting others in harms way, including himself. Using the excuse that there is nothing to do here, is just that an excuse. What's wrong with bowling? Or playing basketball, football. baseball, or even going to the movies?? Maybe there is plenty to do, you just can't do it wasted. Old enough to know better!!
Alimoe
Why can't people older people in Kalispell stop telling young people how stupid they are? Why can't young people stop telling older people they are old? Last time I checked old and young do this same garbage!! Stop blaming people for not having something to do! Stop taking away opportunities for young people. You are responsible for you, a friend is someone that will tell there best friend you messed up, no go own your mistake, I will be here when your done!
blueice
I was waiting to see how long it would take before his friends/family posted the usual ' he was drunk, but he's a good kid that made a poor choice, he doesn't deserve to go to jail..'. At least this drunk didn't get the chance to kill someone, although by the way he was driving he certainly tried. If you get busted for drugs, the arresting department can claim property the drugs were found on, including houses, cars, etc...is this not true? How about a DUI law that states on the second or third offense, whatever vehicle you are driving is forfeited to the arresting department to be sold or used in education/prevention? Maybe that would convince a few to hand over their keys or call a taxi.
photoguy
still_a_kid, okay, you have explained the shotgun and I accept that, but tell me about the .44 magnum? I hunt as well, and NEVER carry a .44 magnum on the front seat and pick it up after a high speed 20 mile chase, really he is damn luck he is not DEAD, and the community is lucky, no one else is dead...What would you like the community to do, so you have something to do, other than driving around, drunk and underage?
photoguy
I forgot to add, with two weapons in your vehicle! Like I said, he is damn lucky, he is not dead, and we as a community are lucky a "Board" kid is not deador an innocent bystander, I can't imagine, how I ever grew up and was not board!
Mythx
This kid deserves everything he gets handed too him. I went to school with the kid and he constantly harassed others all the time. I personally saw him strike another student in the back of the head close fisted for no apparent reason as he walked by in the halls. Hopefully they lock his ass up and throw away the key.
Don
Uh....photoguy it's Bored not board. Anyway, it's terrible how many people think they can out run the police. There needs to be harsher penalties for anyone who runs. Maybe mandatory 2 years in prison.
photoguy
Ummm Don, Excuse me for the wrong context, but apparently you knew what I meant..I don't miss very often, but every once in a while....
minderella
I have never felt like I needed to comment on a story until NOW. I was picking my children up from daycare this day! We saw cops zooming past us as I was loading them in the car. Thank GOD they did not go in the street. I am glad the cops were able ti finally apprehend him. I do not care if he is a good kid or not...he broke the law plain and simple. he could have killed MY children or someone elses! I have lived here since I was 14 and sure there has never been "anything to do" but I did not go trying to out run the cops and endanger the community. Get a hobby, geez.
still_a_kid
Well the 44 magnum, that's just Scott. My father carries a handgun when hunting in case of bobcats or whatever incident may call for one. But thats beside the point. I'm not defending him like I said what he did was wrong. He was being stupid/ignorant /belligerent/careless just dumb. I still cant believe it. He deserves to go to jail. And bowling gets old after a whileas do movies and we did play sports, we also went 4xing all the time. Heck we would throw rocks. I once went to a city council meeting and they brought up building a big community center, I spoke up about how it would keep kids out of trouble. Everyone agreed, however the only problem were expenses, unfortunately I havent heard anything more about them building one. Dont believe me theres nothing to do because there is were just limited is what Im trying to say, go to either high school and take a survey.
still_a_kid
And mythx! That fight was over a girl, just another stupid high school fight. Those guys became friends again after that..and still are. Just to inform the public. However I'm sorry if he was a jerk to you. AH high school, the memories and the drama.
still_a_kid
I just reread what you wrote and you're right, basically having the gun in there at that time wasn't necessary. Fortunately the reports say the gun was unloaded.
bimmermt
What if, just what if, one of those speeding cop cars would have lost control and killed some innocent individual(s). They have radios and spikes. This guy would likely not have been speeding if he was not chased. Does not make sense, instead of one speeding vehicle, we had perhaps a dozen. He would have been arrested, regardless of the action taken by the police at that very moment. High speed chases should be outlawed. Use the radio, and better judgment, the speed of sound is very fast, and people don't run when not chased.
volunteer firefighter
hey still_a_kid- I have an idea for your boredom- How about get a job? Hmmm... Mabey even go to college... Or better yet, go serve in the armed forces! You could even volunteer at the local animal shelter or call bingo at a retirement home! Losers like this kid should spend the rest of his life in prison. Bowling??? That's what you do for fun? Movies?? Come on- you live in the mecca of outdoor recreation, and you blame boredom for breaking the law? I think society needs to take a far greater stance on DUI offenders. It really isn't a pretty site when your dragging a headless corps out of a car, hoping you don't pull the arms off the body, shortly after a head on collision occured on her way to work, and the drunk driver only has minor injuries. Luckily that didn't happen this time, but probably will in the future unless we do something to change our attitudes and laws to prevent such tragedies!
missingmycousin
Luckily this kid did't kill anyone. My question is aren't the cops suppose to stop chasing someone when high speeds are a factor? Im not sure I am just curious. This kid deserves a big punishment but I am sure he will not get to much time.
photoguy
Well Still a Kid, I have lived here a long time, and I have never been BORED(LOL) enough to run from the cops...in fact, I have never really been bored! Again, as someone pointed out, you live in the mecca of outdoors recreation, when I grew up, we didn't have video games, the internet, and had only 4 channels on the TV(I know, I am preaching!) but we found stuff to do, besides get drunk and run from the cops! Yes, he was stupid, plain and simple..I hope he pays a price that helps him understand it is not acceptable, he lives in a community of caring and understanding people, but this is not acceptable, period, now he has wrecked the truck, lost his guns, will probably spend time in jail and possibly never be able to legally hunt using a gun again, I sure hope those beers were worth it..
faithful reader
"Why can't people older people in Kalispell stop telling young people how stupid they are? Why can't young people stop telling older people they are old? Last time I checked old and young do this same garbage!!" Well, that was certainly intelligent. Last time I checked...
kennyc
I was at a house near foy's lake road and saw the spike strips laid down for this kid near whalebone dr. After he went by us, he was doing 70 mph headed into Kalispell, with at least one flat tire. My question is this. There was alot of people and children on or near the road at this time (5:30) and I counted (13) patrol car's in pursuit of this truck. I would say they were all doing at least 70 mph into "Kalispell". Why did they risk scores of other lives, when they could have followed him with one or two of the umarked cars they had at the scene? And then arrested him? He was drunk and no doubt needed to be taken off the road for sure, but at what cost?
BettyBoop
Okay, lots of feelings flying around about this, but in the end the cops did their jobs. They are experinced officers, they have had many hours of training, and I am sure they were well aware of the dangers. My only thought is that maybe they could have tried the pit manuver. I have seen it done on the t.v. show cops. Otherwise I am just thankful that this ended without any deaths!!! Plates that show if you have had a DUI before? What a awesome idea!
MTNative
I grew up in Kalispell and lived there until 8 years ago when I moved to North Dakota. Now this is a state where there is nothing to do. I love and miss "home"....could go swimming, hiking, golfing, fishing, 4wheeling, hunting, skiing......etc.etc., you get my point. This kid is obviously unhappy from reading some of the comments from his classmates....he needs help and LOTS of it!! I hope he gets the max on every violation he committed, to many people get a slap on the hand for this stuff and turn around and do over and over again. Something needs to change with the law and our judges having no balls to sentence individuals to the max.