Man arrested after high-speed car chase Friday

Havre Police arrested Joe Don Demontiney, 41, of Box Elder Friday after locating an unattended vehicle they said he had used to lead officers on a high speed chase, an incident that is still under investigation.

Havre Police Chief Gabe Matosich said at 1:44 p.m. Friday officers stopped a 2008 GMC Sierra, operated by Demontiney, on the 100 Block of First Street West but he accelerated and attempted to escape, driving recklessly while doing so.

Matosich said he traveled westbound up the hill toward the Holiday Village Mall before turning around near Havre Ford and heading back into town, at which point officers terminated the pursuit.

The vehicle was found unattended minutes later on the 100 Block of 18th Avenue, and Demontiney was located and arrested on the 1600 Block of First Street shortly after, he said.

Demontiney was arrested on charges of reckless driving, stop sign violation, criminal endangerment, no drivers license and fleeing or eluding a police officer.

A bag of cellphones was found in the area shortly after, but Matosich said he cannot provide any details on the phones other than their discovery as part of the ongoing investigation.

The police log entry for the incident said the matter was being addressed by a task force, and this morning Matosich said it was the Tri-Agency Drug Task Force.

Matosich said this morning that Demontiney is being held without bail at the Hill County Detention Center.