Man charged in downtown Ronan chase

By MEGAN STRICKLAND

Daily Inter Lake

A man has been charged with felony criminal endangerment, misdemeanor driving under the influence of drugs, and misdemeanor eluding a police officer after allegedly leading police on a chase through downtown Ronan.

According to court documents, a Lake County Sheriff’s Deputy tried to stop a vehicle traveling 10 miles per hour over the posted speed limit on U.S. 93 on Aug. 5. As the deputy got out of the vehicle, it took off towards Ronan. The deputy pursued the vehicle from Don Aadsen Ford dealership to Main Street going 70 miles per hour, in areas where the speed limit is 25 miles per hour and 45 miles per hour.

“The vehicle turned onto Main Street and continued on at a high rate of speed, passing vehicles in the opposite lane of traffic and only stopped when it came upon pedestrians and a street dance being held for Pioneer Days,” prosecutor Ben Anciaux wrote in court documents.

The alleged driver, Jackson David Palmer, 27, fled on foot and was caught by a tribal police officer. Palmer was found to have a suspended driver’s license. He also was on probation for an out of state conviction and was allegedly being supervised by the Missoula probation office. Authorities administered a drug test to Palmer and he allegedly tested positive for methamphetamine.

Palmer was charged in Lake County District Court last week. An arraignment date was not immediately available.