Michelle George is facing several charges after law enforcement officials found the vehicle used in a shooting and car chase involving a Jefferson County Sheriff’s deputy in November hidden on her property.
On November 13, a Jefferson County deputy tried to pull over a blue Chrysler 300 on Interstate 15 between Montana City and Clancy. Authorities said the car didn’t stop and someone fired multiple shots at the deputy.
The suspects’ vehicle fled at high speed north on I-15. Officials believed three men were inside.
When the suspects were taken into custody in Idaho, they were not in the same vehicle.
While being interviewed in Idaho, one of the suspects said they had parked the car in a shed at the driver’s friend’s house, which had a trailer nearby, according to court documents. The suspect was unfamiliar with the area and could not provide a better location.
Court documents state that on December 4, an informant contacted a Lewis and Clark County detective and provided an address as to where the Chrysler 300 was located.
Detectives visited the property on Canyon Ferry Road on December 4, but were unable to make contact with Michelle George, the property owner, according to court documents.
Lewis and Clark County deputies returned to the residence on December 8 and made contact with George, who did not give them permission to look in the shed. Court documents state George told the deputies she rented the shed out to someone, but would not tell them who had rented it.
On December 13, Jefferson County’s Undersheriff was granted a search warrant for George’s property, which was executed on December 15 with assistance from the Lewis and Clark County Sheriff’s Office.
During the search, detectives located the blue Chrysler 300 that was involved in the shooting and pursuit. The vehicle had a car cover over it, according to court documents, and was also covered in dirt and mud. The VIN number confirmed the car to be a rental vehicle stolen out of Flathead County.
Court documents state detectives located a silver digital scale with white residue, which later tested presumptive positive for methamphetamine, inside George’s purse. Inside the bedroom, detectives found several glass pipes and collected four with white residue inside of them.
George has been charged with two felonies for tampering with or fabricating physical evidence and criminal possession of dangerous drugs as well as a misdemeanor for criminal possession of drug paraphernalia.
Her bond has been set at $25,000.
