Man charged in Ronan high speed chase

By MEGAN STRICKLAND

Daily Inter Lake

A Butte man has been charged in Lake County District Court for leading officers on a high-speed chase through the Ronan area on July 31.

According to court documents dispatchers received a call from a man on Canyon Mill Road outside of Ronan on July 31 about Steven Jay Richardson, 44, who was “going ape s--- on his door.” A Flathead Tribal Police officer located the vehicle Richardson had allegedly left the scene in and initiated a traffic stop on U.S. 93, near Pizza Cafe. When the officer got out of his patrol car, Richardson allegedly took off. The officer turned on his emergency lights and allegedly followed Richardson down Terrace Lake Road at more than 100 miles per hour in a 45 mph zone. Richardson allegedly passed several cars and almost hit a patrol car before a Lake County Sheriff’s Deputy put stop sticks in the roadway. The car careened into field after hitting the strips and came to a stop. Richardson submitted to a breath test and was allegedly found to have a .140 blood alcohol concentration.

He has been charged with felony criminal endangerment, misdemeanor fleeing a police officer, and misdemeanor driving under the influence of alcohol.

Bail was set at $10,000. An arraignment date was not immediately available.