Geoffrey Kinder was arrested overnight in Great Falls after leading police on a high-speed chase.
It happened just after 2 a.m. when police saw two vehicles that appeared to be chasing each other.
Police attempted to stop one of the vehicle, but the driver – later identified as Kinder – sped away through the north side of downtown.
Another police officer picked up the chase, and the suspect vehicle then hit the patrol car and a parked truck and trailer.
Kinder got out of his vehicle and began running away, but was soon captured.
A witness told KRTV that she and her husband "…saw an officer pursuing a vehicle down the wrong way on 5th St N around 5 Ave N….we saw a foot pursuit as well…I will also say, though I could not see what happened, we clearly heard multiple commands and warnings and ZERO gunshots so…Bravo GFPD for a job well done!
The GFPD says that Kinder has a "significant criminal history," and is now facing charges of criminal endangerment, resisting arrest, obstructing a peace officer, criminal mischief, fleeing a police officer, reckless driving, and several hit and run citations.
Kinder is also on federal probation, according to the GFPD.
We will update you when we get more information.
UPDATE: Court documents say that the officer began following the vehicles, and the truck drove into a yard on the 400 block of 8th Street South; several occupants of the truck "bailed out" and ran away, and the driver then headed to 7th Street South and turned north.
The truck lost control and spun out on the 200 block of 7th Street, hitting a curb and "lightly" striking a pole, causing a rear tire to blow out. The driver kept going, however, leading the officer on a chase through several blocks of downtown Great Falls at speeds greater than 65 miles per hour.
The police officer said the chase was too dangerous, so the officer slowed down and kept other officers informed via radio.
Another police officer then saw the vehicle near the 500 block of 5th Avenue North.
The police report says that the driver turned directly toward him, and instead of stopping, crashed into the police car, a parked trailer, and a parked pickup truck. The driver then got out of the vehicle and began running away.
The police officer chased after him, ordering him to stop.
A witness told KRTV that she and her husband "…saw an officer pursuing a vehicle down the wrong way on 5th St N around 5 Ave N….we saw a foot pursuit as well…I will also say, though I could not see what happened, we clearly heard multiple commands and warnings and ZERO gunshots so…Bravo GFPD for a job well done!
Kinder was quickly captured and taken into custody.
There is no word yet on what happened to the driver of the other vehicle that was initially engaged in the incident.
Among the charges that Kinder is facing: criminal endangerment, resisting arrest, fleeing/eluding a peace officer, reckless driving, careless driving, and criminal mischief.
The GFPD says that Kinder has a "significant criminal history," and is also on federal probation.
Prosecutors requested that bail for Kinder be set at $50,000.
