Suspect Apprehended After Multi-Mile Chase Near Lima, MT Following Suspicious Gun Sale

Lima, MT – A series of suspicious incidents and a lengthy vehicle pursuit on Monday led to the apprehension of a suspect after a tense and multi-mile chase involving deputies from Beaverhead County.

The day began when Sheriff Dave Wendt was approached by a biker who reported an encounter earlier that day at Monida. The individual claimed they were approached by a person selling guns and claiming a relative had passed away. The buyer told the suspect they could go to Idaho Falls for cash but then changed plans to Lima. When the buyer entered an Exxon to use their ATM, the suspect noticed the marked sheriff’s truck and left the scene quickly. Upon returning with the cash, the buyer was unable to locate the seller and approached Sheriff Wendt, reporting what happened. The buyer, suspecting the guns might be stolen, left the firearms with the sheriff.

On September 1st, at 6:07 p.m., dispatch alerted Sheriff Wendt to a suspicious person near Dell. A caller reported that a man had come to their door looking for work and tried to sell her husband a pistol. The vehicle matched the description from the incident the day before.

Sheriff Wendt quickly began searching for the suspect, with Deputy Fields heading toward the area. Deputy fields passed the vehicle on Red Rock road as it was heading towards I-15. Deputy Fields activated his emergency lights. Instead of stopping, the driver fled, getting onto I-15 southbound.

Wendt set up stop sticks at the Red Rock fishing bridge, but the suspect ran through the median again, heading north on I-15.

Near the Beaverhead River, Sheriff Wendt positioned his vehicle behind a guardrail and deployed stop sticks, successfully spiking two of the tires. At this point, a third deputy joined the chase, and all three continued pursuit.

The suspect’s vehicle began losing parts of its tires as the chase extended about four more miles. The driver attempted to cross the median again into oncoming traffic, prompting deputies to initiate a pit maneuver. However, initial efforts were complicated by oncoming traffic and the fleeing vehicle’s erratic movements.

Deputy Fields managed to get alongside the suspect’s car and pushed it off the road, bringing the pursuit to a close. The driver quickly exited the vehicle and surrendered about 80 yards away, ending the tense chase.

Law enforcement officials secured the scene and transported the suspect into custody amid ongoing investigation into the initial gun sales and the suspect’s activities.