BF man arrested following ISP pursuit
KEITH KINNAIRD | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 5 years, 9 months AGO
SANDPOINT — A Bonners Ferry man was arrested on a suite of criminal charges after unsuccessfully trying to outrun an Idaho State Police trooper on Wednesday.
Jason Ralph Eby is charged with felony eluding, driving without privileges and possession of methamphetamine, marijuana and drug paraphernalia.
Eby, 44, made an initial appearance in Bonner County Magistrate Court on Wednesday, although minutes from the hearing were not immediately available.
Trooper Jonathan Cushman stopped Eby for speeding on U.S. Highway 95 near the Boundary County line, but Eby sped off when the trooper returned to his vehicle to check Eby’s driving status, according to a probable cause affidavit. Speeds reached 80 mph as the pursuit continued south into Bonner County, the affidavit said.
Eby, driving a Nissan passenger car, braked hard attempting to turn onto Elmira Road, but ended up in locked-wheel skid into the northbound lane of travel. Eby, the affidavit said, continued driving southbound for about a half a mile before stopping and bailing out of the vehicle on foot.
Eby fled into the woods and was subdued with a Taser after he refused commands to show both his hands and attempted to get up from the ground, the affidavit said. A meth pipe and scale were found in a bag near where Eby was apprehended and the meth was found in a container attached to the Nissan’s ring of keys, the affidavit said.
Eby is being prosecuted as a persistent violator due to prior felony convictions for burglary in Lincoln County, Mont., in 2009 and unlawful possession of a firearm in Boundary County in 2015. If convicted of the underlying charges, the sentencing enhancement would add five years to life in prison.
Keith Kinnaird can be reached by email at kkinnaird@bonnercountydailybee.com and follow him on Twitter @KeithDailyBee.
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