Man racks up laundry list of additional charges

A traffic stop ended in a car chase Saturday evening in Libby, sending one man to jail on a felony arrest.

Lincoln County Sheriff's Office deputies had been doing surveillance on Casey M. Decker, 26, of Libby, as "a person of interest for other crimes," according to Detective Boyd White. A patrol deputy attempted to pull Decker over on Granite Avenue in Libby at approximately 5:15 p.m. on Saturday. Decker had three warrants for contempt for his arrest, White said. Two of the warrants were from the city of Libby and one was from the Montana Highway Patrol in Kalispell.

Decker began to flee in his vehicle down Granite Avenue, then traveled to Dawson Street and continued to Spencer Hill Avenue, White explained. Decker continued for one block and an additional deputy intercepted Decker, trying to block his escape. Decker attempted to hit the deputy head on with his vehicle, White said. The deputy moved out of the way to avoid a collision.

Decker then veered off the road to the right, went down an embankment, through a fence and further down the road. Deputy John Graham then hit Decker's vehicle and Graham pinned his vehicle against Decker's vehicle, White explained. Decker jumped out of the vehicle and began running on foot. Boyd then grabbed Decker. A physical altercation ensued and Decker attempted to throw objects at the deputies, White said.

Decker was in possession of Oxycodone, of which he did not have a prescription on his person, and methamphetamine, White said.

After Decker was taken into custody, he was taken to St. John's Lutheran Hospital and "treated for minor injuries he sustained in flight," White conceded. Decker is currently in the Lincoln County Jail. In addition to the three felony charges, Decker was arrested on charges of felony possession of dangerous drugs, resisting arrest, criminal mischief and vandalism, driving with a suspended license and eluding a peace officer.

White, Graham, Deputy Dave Hall, Sgt. Roger Guches and Sgt. Joe Nagle were all involved in the chase.