Arlee woman pleads not guilty to leading officers on chase
Kody Lynn Belcourt (Photo by Jeff Smith)
An Arlee woman is accused of participating in a pursuit with law enforcement this past August. Kody Lynn Belcourt, 27, entered a plea of not guilty in Polson District Court Sept. 28 to felony criminal endangerment.
According to court records, on Aug. 29 law enforcement attempted to conduct a traffic stop on a vehicle driven by a male wanted on outstanding warrants. The male took off at speeds reaching over 100 miles per hour. The suspect vehicle turned onto Finley Creek Road in the Arlee area and towards the middle school.
The vehicle eventually stopped and the driver, later identified as Anthony Cutfinger, fled on foot. However, the vehicle took off again toward U.S. Highway 93, forcing other motorists to take evasive action while going approximately 85 in a 45 mile-per-hour zone. The vehicle eventually stopped, but the driver, identified as Belcourt, refused to exit and resisted arrest.
A search of the vehicle yielded a bag of methamphetamine.
Judge Deborah “Kim” Christopher set a trial date of Feb. 26. Belcourt is at liberty on her own recognizance.