BILLINGS - A woman accused of leading Billings police on a chase in a stolen van was charged Tuesday in Yellowstone County Justice Court.
Tanya Maria Lindemulder, who is also known to use the last name Stuker, was charged with two felony counts of criminal endangerment and misdemeanor counts of theft, obstruction, resisting arrest, drug possession and driving while suspended or revoked.
Lindemulder, 36, was arrested Monday evening after police received a report of a stolen van and one of the passengers in the vehicle had brandished a gun, according to court records. The report was made at about 9:30 p.m.
An officer saw the van on State Avenue as it crossed South 27th Street and attempted to stop it, but the driver fled. Officers initiated a pursuit because the vehicle was stolen and a gun was reported to have been involved, court records state.
The driver of the stolen van fled through residential areas and failed to obey stop signs, stop lights and posted speed limits. The driver also drove into oncoming traffic and almost caused several accidents, court records state.
An officer was able to deploy stop sticks at one point and two of the van's tires were disabled. The driver continued to flee until the van became high-centered on a retaining wall. The pursuit lasted about 20 minutes.
Lindemulder was arrested. Three passengers were also in the stolen van. It was not clear in court records if any of the passengers were arrested or whether a weapon was found inside the van.
While being booked at the county jail, Lindemulder allegedly said she did not stop for pursuing officers because "they don't chase anyone anymore. She also allegedly said that "people say that you just have to run from the police for a little bit and they will stop chasing you."
