Whitefish Police on Wednesday night arrested a suspect in a series of burglaries, thefts and vandalism crimes in the Whitefish area.

Andrew Ryan Dlask, 21 of Libby was arrested after a long foot chase through the woods. An accomplice in the crimes currently is being sought, according to a news release from the Whitefish Police Department.

Dlask was in the area of Idaho and Waverly Place — apparently riding a stolen mountain bike — at approximately 2 p.m. Wednesday when he allegedly stole a Nissan pickup truck that had been parked outside a residence with the motor running.

The owner of the vehicle came out a short time later and discovered his vehicle was missing.

Approximately an hour later, a relative of the pickup owner saw the truck traveling east on East Edgewood toward Columbia Falls and alerted the 911 center.

Members of the Columbia Falls Police Department, Whitefish Police Department and Montana Fish Wildlife and Parks converged on the area to shut off all avenues of escape.

A Whitefish police lieutenant spotted the vehicle near the F.H. Stoltze Land & Lumber Co. sawmill.

Dlask reportedly drove the stolen vehicle into the mill parking lot and fled on foot into a swampy area north of the mill with three Whitefish officers pursuing him.

After a long foot chase through the thick forest, a creek and swamp, Dlask was apprehended.

Shane Erickson, the detective who pursued and caught Dlask, recently competed in the Spartan Race and said that the foot pursuit was much like that race.

Dlask later confessed to three burglaries, numerous attempted burglaries, felony criminal mischief, thefts of six to 10 bikes and car break-ins, according to the news release.

Dlask told investigators that he and his accomplice, a boy, would steal bicycles and cruise residential neighborhoods during the day and look for houses where it appeared there was no one home.

One of them would approach the door and knock while the other served as a lookout. If no one answered the door, they would either force the door open or in some cases doors were found unlocked.

In one instance, a man on East Second Street in Whitefish observed the two burglars attempting to enter a neighbor’s house and then attempt to enter his vehicle. He confronted them, took Dlask’s picture with his cellphone and then reported his observation to police.  

Dlask is currently being held in the Flathead County Detention Center, charged with vehicle theft. Additional charges are expected.