MISSOULA – A man is in custody after a high-speed pursuit that started in downtown Missoula and ended in Idaho.
Michael W. Murray, 34, of Spokane, Wash., was taken into custody without incident. He is currently on felony probation out of Washington.
The incident began when Missoula police initiated a traffic stop just before 3:30 p.m. on Thursday in the 200 block of East Broadway.
Missoula Police Department spokesman Sgt. Travis Welsh told MTN News that there were three people in the SUV at the time of the stop, a female driver and two males.
One of the males was allowed to leave the scene. The woman was outside the vehicle talking to police when the other male occupant, later identified as Murray, got into the driver’s seat and took off.
Welsh said at the time of the traffic stop they were investigating if Murray had an outstanding warrant.
Police and Missoula County sheriff’s deputies pursued the suspect through Missoula County.
The chase went through the northside and onto I-90 westbound toward Idaho before Murray made a U-turn on the I-90, took the Petty Creek exit in Alberton and continued to drive on Petty Creek Road. He eventually turned onto US Highway 12 west of Lolo and headed into Idaho.
Missoula law enforcement ended their pursuit when Murray crossed Lolo Pass on U.S. Highway 12 and continued into Idaho. A U.S. Forest Service agent picked up the chase and continued to follow Murray.
The Grangeville Police Department in Idaho County told MTN News that the pursuit ended when Murray crossed spike stripes and was stopped at mile marker 120 on Highway 12 over 50 miles west of Lolo Pass.
Welsh saide they can’t confirm specifics on the warrant or why police initiated the traffic stop as it’s all under investigation. Murray is currently being held at the Idaho County Jail on the charge of felony eluding. He will also be facing charges pending out of Montana.
