GREAT FALLS — Tevin Oney Lapier has been charged after he reportedly led a Montana Highway Patrol on a high-speed chase in a stolen car west of Great Falls on Sunday.
Court documents that a Montana Highway Patrol trooper saw a car speeding on Central Avenue West near 25th Street and tried to initiate a traffic stop, but the driver - later identified as Lapier - instead sped away. Lapier drove on to I-15 heading north/west, and drove toward oncoming traffic, forcing several cars off the road. Lapier reached speeds of up to 120 miles per hour.
Several people posted on the KRTV Facebook page about it.
- Cheyanne Cyr: "They were headed on the freeways and I saw cop lights I was headed to great falls and the car came on my side of the freeway he went off the shoulder just in time he almost hit me! Me going 80 and him going whatever.. it was fast.. never been so scared. Thank god my baby and I didnt get it."
- Alexandria Stephenson: "I was driving on opposite side of highway as they were in the middle of the chase! Thank god!"
- Chris N Amanda Butikofer: "They pulled into sun prairie, it looked like a Pontiac g6 and it was smoking like it was gonna blow up."
The chase went along the frontage road between Great Falls and Vaughn, and he reportedly crashed the car through two fences, and jumped out and ran away in Sun Prairie, eventually hiding in a residence. He eventually came out and surrendered to officers.
Lapier reportedly admitted that he stole the car from Broadwater Hot Springs in Helena on Saturday night, and that he had ingested meth and heroin before driving.
Court documents state that Lapier is on probation for felony forgery in Yellowstone County.
Lapier has been charged with felony criminal endangerment and felony theft, and several misdemeanors, including theft; driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs; fleeing/eluding a peace officer; driving without a license.
(SUNDAY, 4:49 pm) We are receiving reports of a high-speed chase that happened just after 4 p.m. west of Great Falls on Sunday.
Initial reports indicate the suspect vehicle was traveling at speeds close to 100 miles per hour on the Vaughn Frontage Road heading toward Vaughn/Sun Prairie.
After the suspect vehicle drove through a fence, there was smoke coming from the vehicle and the vehicle was driving erratically.
The initial officer ended the chase because of the driver's behavior.
There were reportedly two people taken into custody, a man and a woman, but this has not been confirmed at this time.
We have not received any reports of serious injuries, nor what triggered the chase.
We will update you if we get more details.
