Landfill vehicle thefts lead to felony charges

Three brothers and a friend, who face felony charges for allegedly stealing three pickups last week and leading law enforcement on multiple chases, had allegedly only intended to break into the Lincoln County Landfill that night to shoot birds.

Jeremiah Foote, 20, and the Schertel brothers –23-year-old David, 20-year-old Enoch and their 17-year-old sibling – admitted to breaking into the landfill late last Tuesday night and stealing three Environmental Restoration pickups, according to a police affidavit filed in justice court.

David Schertel told police that they had originally only entered the closed landfill to shoot birds, according to justice court documents. Supporting his story, police recovered five firearms belonging to the suspects after locating the stolen vehicles Wednesday.

Lincoln County Sheriff Deputy Jason Place became suspicious Wednesday when three ER trucks and a passenger car sped past him shortly after midnight as he drove west toward Libby on Highway 37. By the time he turned around, he was trailing far behind the vehicles, which reportedly reached speeds up to 90 mph. Place said he lost sight of the vehicles after following them down Fisher River Road.

The suspects allegedly took turns driving the stolen pickups and crashed one into a bank on Buck Creek Road, according to court documents. The remaining three vehicles were spotted by law enforcement again after they entered Libby through Haul Road.

Place pulled over the car, driven by the 17-year-old with Foote in the passenger seat, while the remaining two pickups split up and drove off.

Deputy Travis Smith reportedly chased one of the pickups until it crashed into a bank down Granite Lake Road and the alleged driver, Enoch Schertel, took off on foot. The third pickup, believed to have been driven by David Schertel, was later recovered on Cherry Creek Road.

The two men turned themselves in last Wednesday.

Foote’s bail was set at $25,000 last Thursday for felony theft and criminal mischief charges, and misdemeanor theft and criminal trespassing charges.

David Schertel and Enoch Schertel’s bail was set at $35,000 for the same charges, as well as misdemeanor reckless driving and eluding a peace officer. The case of the youngest brother is being handled in youth court.