GREAT FALLS — Christian Scott Burkhardt has been charged after he allegedly stole a car from a Great Falls auto dealer and led officers on a high-speed chase.
According to court documents, police were called to Bleskin Motors on 10th Avenue South just after noon on Thursday for a report of stolen car. The suspect - later identified as Burkhardt - got into a white Mercedes that had keys in it and sped away, nearly hitting an employee.
Burkhardt headed east on 10th Avenue South and headed out of town, and officers who were chasing him clocked his speed at one point at more than 131 miles per hour.
The Judith Basin County Sheriff's Office was notified of the chase, and deputies set up spike strips. A short time later, Judith Basin County deputies stopped the vehicle and arrested Burkhardt.
Police also spoke with a person who said that Burkhardt had showed up before the car theft in a nearby alley; the witness said that Burkhardt had shown up in a Chevy HHR, which was later confirmed to have been stolen in Helena.
Burkhardt has been charged with two felony counts of criminal endangerment, felony robbery, assault with a weapon, two felony counts of theft, and several moving violations (misdemeanors).
