Black pleads not guilty to ATV theft

POLSON — A 21-year-old Ronan man who allegedly led authorities on a high-speed chase on May 4, pleaded not guilty to charges of criminal endangerment and theft, both felonies, in Lake County District Court last Wednesday.

Leroy Black faced a maximum sentence of 20 years and a fine of $100,000 after police reports say he stole an ATV and proceeded to lead Sheriff deputies and Tribal Police on a chase that reached 60 miles per hour.

Black’s omnibus hearing has been set for Wednesday, Aug. 8 at 9 a.m. and his jury trial will commence on Monday, Oct. 29 at 9 a.m.

According to Sheriff’s office and Tribal Police reports, on May 4 at 2 a.m., authorities received a report that someone had stolen a four-wheeler and that it was traveling westbound on Carbine Road near Ronan.

The owners of the vehicle later told law enforcement they had been awakened by a barking dog and observed that someone was attempting to steal their vehicle. A Lake County Sheriff’s deputy traveled toward the location where the ATV had been reported stolen. While on Round Butte Road, he saw a four-wheeler traveling through the intersection of Turnquist Road.

The vehicle failed to obey the stop sign and nearly struck the deputy’s patrol vehicle. The officer then initiated a traffic stop by turning on his lights but the male operator, later identified as Black, looked back at the officer but refused to pull over.

The officer followed him at speeds of approximately 55-60 m.p.h. and observed the ATV nearly wrecking while making turns due to the speed it was traveling. The officer noted later in the report that the ATV nearly rolled several times.

When the four-wheeler reached the intersection of Moiese Valley Road and Loscheider Road, the ATV nearly struck a tribal police vehicle. Black then tried to enter a driveway but was unsuccessful and almost hit a tree. With both officers in pursuit, the ATV pulled into a driveway on Moiese Valley road at 40 m.p.h. and became high-centered on pieces of steel beams. It had multiple flat tires and appeared to be undriveable.

According to court documents, the approximate value of the vehicle was $4,000 and the approximate cost of repairs to the vehicle was $3,500.

With the vehicle incapacitated, Black took off on foot and continued over a fence. Officers were forced to climb over the fence but it broke underneath them and caused them to fall to the ground. They also had to climb over a barbed-wire fence and one of the officers ripped his trousers in the process, but they were able to eventually apprehend Black. He continued to fight with the officers so they used a taser to restrain him. He was uncooperative and disorderly when they led him back to their vehicles.