Chase ends in suspects’ arrests
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LAKESIDE – Two men who allegedly stole a $100,000 boat from a Lakeside Marina on June 19 were arrested after a high speed, all-terrain chase on July 14 near Elmo.
The two men were Ty Christian Butler, 20, Dixon, and Brandon Jeppesen, 30, Polson.
A Montana Highway Patrol Trooper noticed the pickup and boat on Highway 28 at 5:20 a.m. In the high-speed pursuit that followed, the pair turned off the highway and drove through the Standing Arrow Powwow Grounds in Elmo, bouncing the boat off the trailer hitch. They headed onto another road near Elmo, high-centered the pickup and fled on foot, pursued by law enforcement from Lake County, Flathead County, Tribal and Montana Highway Patrol.
A rancher in the area of the road spotted the two and kept an eye on their whereabouts until law enforcement officials arrived to arrest the two men around noon, according to Lake County Sheriff Don Bell.
Wearing ghillie suits, the two alleged fugitives were dehydrated and were taken to Providence St. Joseph Medical Center for treatment and then transferred to law enforcement officers from Flathead County.
The pickup, what remains of the boat and the trailer were recovered, Bell said.
