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Suspect arrested in Bonner County, Montana vehicle pursuit

CHLOE COCHRAN | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 7 months AGO
by CHLOE COCHRAN
| April 15, 2026 1:00 AM

LIBBY, Mont. — A juvenile driver is facing charges after a report of an April 11 stolen vehicle and pursuit incident that started in the Yaak, Montana area, according to the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office.   

LCSO officials said they were alerted by way of a 911 call of a reported stolen vehicle the night of April 11, after three male juveniles allegedly stole a brown Ford pickup and were driving towards Libby, Montana, on Pipe Creek Road.   

Reports indicate that the vehicle was driving recklessly, crossing over the center line and traveling at a speed more than the posted speed limits.  

The driver allegedly failed to yield to a traffic stop initiated by Lincoln County sheriff’s deputies, ultimately evading officials and driving through Troy, Montana. Officials said the pickup was recorded at a speed of 70 mph in a posted 25 mph zone.  

While LSCO officials did not specify where the stolen vehicle was stopped, the vehicle was brought to a stop using a boxing maneuver, where the three juveniles were then detained. 

A boxing maneuver is a police tactic where a police vehicle makes contact with the vehicle of a suspect, causing the suspect's vehicle to spin and stop.    

The 16-year-old driver was taken to the Bonner County Juvenile Detention Center and charged with felonies for theft of a light vehicle, aggravated fleeing from or eluding a peace officer and criminal endangerment. 

Due to the individuals in the case being minors, details are limited regarding the pursuit, outside of what was provided by Lincoln County Sheriff Darren Short.    

At the time of publishing, no additional information was provided.   

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