By Ellen Thompson/Havre Daily News/ethompson@havredailynews.com
A high-speed chase ended Saturday night at the Duck Inn, and almost in the Duck Inn, when a vehicle stopped by police hit the First Street building.
Havre police put the kibosh on a chase that began in Chinook, laying down speed sticks to deflate the tires of a 2001 Ford Taurus police suspect was stolen.
It took two sets of speed sticks to slow the car police estimated was moving at 90 mph, Havre Assistant Police Chief George Tate said today. The first set of speed sticks was placed near the L&L Classic Car Wash, and the second near Emporium Food and Fuel on First Street, he said.
The speed sticks force plastic tubes into a tire to deflate it, rather than blow it out, Tate said. The first set deflated two of the vehicle's tires. The second set deflated a third tire, enough to stop the car, he said.
The car knocked over a lamp post and slid into the Duck Inn parking lot before it hit the building, damaging it, Tate said.
A Chinook police officer and a Blaine County sheriff's deputy tried to stop the speeding vehicle as it went through that town. Blaine County Sheriff Glenn Huestis said deputies clocked the car at 97 mph before they attempted to stop it.
When they failed, Blaine County dispatch radioed to Hill County at 11:54 p.m. for help, Havre police said.
Five Havre police officers and at least one Hill County sheriff's deputy responded, Tate said.
When the driver lost control of the car and it came to a stop, he tried to flee, Tate said. Police chased him on foot and apprehended the man north of First Street.
Police arrested Cody Reno Billy Boy Charboneau, 20, of Poplar on charges of criminal endangerment, driving under the influence, driving with a suspended or revoked driver's license, failure to give notice of an accident, failure to stop or remain at an accident, reckless driving, no seat belt, obstructing a peace officer, purchase or possession of an intoxicant by a minor, and motor vehicle theft.
Roosevelt County Sheriff John Grainger said the car was reported stolen from Wolf Point. Fort Peck Tribal Police were handling the investigation, and could not be reached for comment.
