High-speed Havre chase ends in crash, injuries

Havre Police officers were involved Monday evening in a high-speed pursuit on First Street that ended in a rollover crash at the junction of U.S. highways 2 and 87, and with one arrest on multiple charges.

Havre Police Capt. Aaron Wittmer said that Monday at 6:28 p.m. an officer saw Jalen Jaret Watson of Havre, 19, driving a vehicle on Third Avenue between First and Main streets, and recognized him as a person with outstanding warrants. The officer attempted to pull Watson over, but after initially appearing to be complying, Watson took off west on Main Street for about two blocks, then got onto First Street driving west at a high rate of speed.

Watson, who had an 18-year-old woman and a 23-year-old woman in the vehicle with him, attempted to make the turn onto U.S. Highway 87, but misjudged the turn and when the wheels caught at the edge of the road, the vehicle overturned into the ditch, Wittmer said.

Hill County sheriff’s deputies, who were called at 6:30 p.m. to help with the pursuit as it entered the county, assisted at the scene of the crash, and an ambulance and fire crew were called at 6:31 p.m. to help with injured people and possible problems with the wreckage.

Wittmer said Watson was transported to the hospital for injuries, but later released into police custody. He was charged with four counts of criminal endangerment, driving under the influence, fleeing or eluding a peace officer, driving with a suspended or revoked driver’s license and failure to carry proof of vehicle insurance. He was also served with five Justice or City court warrants and a state District Court warrant.

The criminal endangerment charges are for the two passengers and the officers in the pursuit, but more endangerment charges will likely be added as witnesses are interviewed, Wittmer said, adding that Watson’s driving endangered other motorists and almost caused a crash.

Watson is being held at Hill County Detention Center without bail as of this morning, but will have his arraignment hearing this afternoon or sometime Wednesday, Wittmer said.