A Libby woman facing multiple charges in Montana is in custody in Idaho followed an alleged police chase last weekend.

Heike Langley, 61, is in the Boundary County Detention Center following an incident on the evening of Saturday, Aug. 29, that authorities say risked the lives of multiple people before ending with a crash into a local dentist’s office in Bonners Ferry. According to law enforcement, there were also indications she was considering fleeing to Canada.

Langley is charged with one felony count of fleeing or attempting to elude a police officer as well as resisting or obstructing officers.

Langley’s bail is set at $250,000 and she is being held at the Boundary County Jail pending a competency evaluation. A preliminary hearing was set for Sept. 11, but was vacated due to a evaluation request to determine if Langley is competent to aid in her defense of the case. 

According to the affidavit in support of a warrantless arrest, county officer Tony Jeppesen and two other local law officers responded to a report of a reckless vehicle, a red Subaru Outback with Lincoln County plates, on Highway 95. A dispatcher told officers there were three different calls reporting the vehicle was speeding, driving into the oncoming lane and forcing vehicles off the road. One vehicle reportedly crashed.

A Bonners Ferry police officer saw the Outback and pulled it over while another sought to find the wrecked vehicle. Cpl. Jeppesen said as he approached the Outback that the driver of a Ford pickup truck stopped and told him he saw the Subaru cross the center line, causing another vehicle to leave the road. 

Bonners Ferry police officer Robbie Bates was speaking to the woman, identified as Langley. When he sought her driver’s license, registration and proof of insurance, she said she didn’t have her license and had to ask someone to put gas in her vehicle so she could go home, according to the court filing. Langley gave Bates her information verbally and while he checked for outstanding warrants and her driver’s status, Langley spoke to Jeppesen. 

She denied doing anything wrong when he confronted her about her alleged reckless driving. She also denied ingesting alcohol or using drugs. At one point, she restarted her car and despite Jeppesen’s efforts to get her to stop the car, she drove off at a high rate of speed.

Both officers pursued Langley with speeds up to 85 miles per hour through town.

When Jeppesen approached the intersection of Highway 95 and Harrison Street, he saw the Outback crashed into Bonners Ferry Family Dentistry. Ofc. Bates approached the vehicle with his gun drawn and Jeppesen put handcuffs on Langley. Another city officer searched the accused before she was taken to Boundary Community Hospital. 

The crash investigation was turned over to Idaho State Police.

In Montana, Langley is charged with felony assault with a weapon and two misdemeanors, littering and theft. The theft charge is still pending in Lincoln County Justice Court while the others have been transferred to district court. 

Langley appeared for her arraignment Aug. 10 and pleaded not guilty to the felony assault as well as littering.

The assault charge is a result of an alleged act by Langley following the confrontation between her and the 75-year-old woman. The elderly woman told law officers Langley tried to strike her with a 2021 Subaru Outback after she told her to pick up her trash.

In the affidavit of probable cause, county deputy Derek Breiland responded on July 23 to a residence on Albert Way. After speaking to the elderly woman, Capt. Don Luthey found Langley near her residence in the Outback. He pulled her over and detained her while the officers investigated.

Breiland attempted to speak to Langley, but she refused and was taken into custody. 

The theft charge arose two days later, July 25, when Langley allegedly removed batteries from the TV remote control in the detention center     and threw them in the trash. According to the charging document, Langley was seen on video removing the batteries before throwing them away.

A conviction for assault with a weapon may result in a 20-year term in the Montana State Prison. The theft charge may result in a six-month jail term and the littering charge, 30 days.

Langley’s bail was set at $15,000, but court records indicate she was released on her own recognizance. Lincoln County District Judge Matt Cuffe signed the order Aug. 11 for Heike’s release. The county attorney’s office did not oppose an Aug. 10 motion by attorney Daniel Wood for her release.

Following the incident in Idaho and one in Lincoln County, local authorities filed a motion Aug. 31 to revoke her release and issue a bench warrant for her arrest.

According to a report by county Probation Officer Vanessa Williamson, the first alleged violation occurred Aug. 28 when Langley was charged with making false reports to law enforcement. She reportedly called 911 several times to report alleged crimes her neighbors were committing against her. Williamson and Libby police Sgt. Vince Smart spoke to Langley about her behavior.

The case was filed Aug. 28 in Libby City Court.

The following day, Aug. 29,  was the alleged incident in Idaho when she traveled to Sandpoint. Langley said she didn’t have any money, window shopped and begged for money to get home. Idaho authorities did collect a blood sample to test for intoxicants.

The other violation dealt with Langley leaving Montana without permission from authorities. Ofc. Williamson wrote in her report that when they spoke to Langley’s neighbors on Aug. 28, they said she asked them how to get to Canada.