High-speed pursuit leads to crash, arrest in Beaver Creek Park

A high-speed pursuit which started in Havre and ended in Beaver Creek Park Thursday resulted in three arrests being made by the Havre Police Department.

Terry Lee Wells Jr. of Havre, 34, was being held without bond this morning at the Hill County Detention Center on a pick-up-and-hold order, and five counts of criminal endangerment, a count of fleeing or eluding a peace officer and a count of possession of drug paraphernalia

Wells was also held on a charge of a violation of conditions of release in a suspended sentence on $40,000 bond. 

A press release from the Havre Police Department said the pursuit started Thursday at 8:25 a.m. after a police officer attempted to stop Wells on the 1500 Block of 11th Street West. Wells was driving a 2018 Jeep Renegade, had warrants for his arrest and was wanted by the Department of Corrections Adult Probation and Parole. 

Wells refused to stop, and he led officers on a high-speed pursuit through Havre, the release said, adding that Wells proceeded to travel southbound on Montana Secondary Highway 234 — the Beaver Creek Highway — and continued into the park. While Wells was fleeing from law enforcement, he struck a deer at a high rate of speed, and officers were able to apprehend him.

The Jeep sustained significant damage to its front end and a patrol vehicle sustained minor damage to its front end, the release added.

The release said that other occupants were in the Jeep at the time, a 39-year-old female from Havre and a 22-year-old female from Box Elder, who were released to the Rocky Boy Police Department.

No more information on those occupants of the Jeep were available by print deadline this morning.

The release said Wells was transported to the detention center pending formal charges of six counts of criminal endangerment, one count of fleeing or eluding a peace officer and one count of obstruction of justice. It added that Wells was also being held on two District Court felony warrants, a pick-up-and-hold order from the Department of Corrections and for violating his conditions of release.