Northwest Montana man arrested after another alleged police chase
SCOTT SHINDLEDECKER | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 3 months, 2 weeks AGO
Barely two years after engaging Northwest Montana law enforcement in a high speed chase, a local man is back behind bars after being accused of a similar offense.
Micah M. Winslow, 40, is lodged in the Lincoln County Detention Center on $250,000 bail after a 40-mile chase Friday, Nov. 14, that began just south of Libby and ended near Happy’s Inn.
Winslow is charged with three felonies and three misdemeanors. Convictions on the felony counts of assault on a peace officer, criminal endangerment and aggravated fleeing from an officer could mean 25 years in the Montana State Prison.
Winslow had his initial appearance Tuesday in Lincoln County Justice Court before Judge Jay Sheffield. A preliminary appearance is set for 1 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 26.
According to court documents in Flathead County, Winslow got a five-year suspended sentence Jan. 30, 2025, from District Judge Dan Wilson after he pleaded guilty to criminal endangerment.
The 2023 case began Nov. 12 when Winslow fled from Flathead County Sheriff's Office deputies after they were alerted to the alleged threats Winslow made against his family. When authorities caught up to Winslow on Three Mile Drive in Kalispell, he took off. The chase, which took authorities from Kalispell to Evergreen and Creston, later included Montana Highway Patrol troopers and Kalispell Police officers.
Winslow eluded spike strips before abandoning his vehicle on McMannamy Draw and ran from officers before they used a Taser to help take him into custody.
In last week’s incident, Montana Highway Patrol Sgt. Andrew Horton was patrolling on U.S. 2 at about 11:32 a.m. when a 2018 black Ford F-150 passed him. Horton estimated the vehicle was driving 50 miles per hour in a 40-mph zone. The truck accelerated, passed another vehicle without signaling and passed more vehicles while driving 72 mph in a 50 mph zone.
Horton caught up to the truck, turned on his emergency lights while the truck sped up and the chase began. The truck was registered to Winslow and he was later confirmed as the driver.
Horton reported the truck made several passes in no passing zones. In one instance, the truck drove over the double yellow line on a straight stretch when a vehicle was coming from the other direction, possibly “playing chicken.”
Horton reported the truck’s top speed was 110 mph and also passed state vehicles and a line of traffic on a blind curve. Lincoln County deputies were also in pursuit and Flathead County deputies were at the county line with spike strips.
The chase ended at mile marker 73 when Winslow stopped on the right shoulder and got out of the truck. Sgt. Horton said Winslow rolled up his sleeves, took a fighting stance and yelled at the officer as he approached him. Horton told Winslow to get on the ground twice before tasing him. Winslow went to the ground and Horton tried to handcuff him. They struggled for a time while Horton tased Winslow multiple times in the back.
During the struggle, a female driver pulled over, turned off the pickup truck and took the keys. Two men also stopped. Horton told one man to hold Winslow’s ankles while the other held a gun on him. He then handcuffed Winslow.
Staff from an ambulance dispatched to the scene checked on Winslow and took him to a hospital for more evaluation. Horton also reported a drug dog on scene registered a positive hit and he suspected Winslow may be impaired on some form of drug.
After the truck was towed and searched, two, large blade knives, more than 12 inches in length, were found in the truck.
Horton later received treatment for several scrapes and cuts on his hands and knees during the fight with Winslow.
Horton’s report included the chase lasted 22 minutes and endangered more than 70 vehicles before fighting with him while attempting to take the officer’s Taser.
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