High-speed chase ends in Lincoln County

A high-speed chase originating near Kila ended in Lincoln County Monday afternoon with the arrest of Frank Maycumber near mile marker 50 on westbound Highway 2.

Trooper Josh Nanna of the Montana Highway Patrol said Maycumber passed him near mile marker 113 near Kila, accelerating to speeds in excess of 100 miles per hour, driving recklessly and running other cars off the road.

“I’m surprised it ended without anyone getting hurt,” Nanna said.

At 2:19 p.m. police dispatch reported Maycumber approaching McGregor Lake moving westbound on Highway 2 at more than 100 miles per hour, with Nanna in pursuit. Dispatch advised officers that the fleeing man was “anti-law enforcement,” and urged responding officers to exercise caution.

Three minutes later, at mile marker 87, Nanna was taken out of the chase when his car struck a deer on the road. Nanna was unhurt in the collision, but neither the deer nor the car were as lucky.

“The car was totaled,” Nanna said.

Immediately after Nanna’s crash, Montana Highway Patrol scrambled a helicopter to continue monitoring Maycumber’s movements and requested Libby Volunteer Ambulance stage in the city and be prepared to mobilize to respond to an accident scene if needed.

Lincoln County Sheriff’s units were already eastbound on Highway 2 to intercept the incoming fugitive.

Maycumber encountered the Lincoln County deputies near mile marker 55, where stop sticks had been set up in the road to flatten his car’s tires and safely end the dangerous pursuit. Lincoln County Sheriff Roby Bowe said Maycumber ran over the stop sticks and slowly came to a halt.

“We set up the stop sticks on the road,” Bowe said. “He ran over them and kept going for another two to three miles before his car finally stopped.”

Stop sticks are one method used by law enforcement to end high-speed pursuits. The sticks are essentially spike strip, encased in plastic. When a car runs over the stick, the plastic casing breaks, sending sharp spikes into the car’s tires. They are designed to slowly deflate the tires, which creates a lower risk of rollover or loss of control than a quick rupture or blow-out of the tires.

Once the car was disabled, Bowe said, Maycumber exited the vehicle and advanced aggressively toward deputies while holding a book in front of his body. At that point, one of the deputies on the scene fired his taser and then tackled Maycumber, taking him into custody.

The ambulance call was canceled, as the incident concluded without incident.

Maycumber was initially booked into the Lincoln County jail, but was transferred to Flathead County late Monday.

Laurel Ewing of the Flathead County Attorney’s Office confirmed Maycumber was in the custody of Flathead County as of April 7. Charges of felony criminal endangerment and felony criminal mischief were filed yesterday in Flathead County.

Criminal endangerment is a violation of Montana 45-5-207 and carries a possible sentence of a fine of up to $50,000 and up to 10 years imprisonment.

It is defined in statute as, “A person who knowingly engages in conduct that creates a substantial risk of death or serious bodily injury to another commits the offense of criminal endangerment.”

 Felony criminal mischief, under MCA 45-6-101, carries the same potential penalty.

It is defined in statute as, “A person commits the offense of criminal mischief if the person knowingly or purposely: (a) injures, damages, or destroys any property of another or public property without consent.”

Maycumber was scheduled for arraignment late Thursday and is being held on $75,000 bond.

Maycumber has no prior felony convictions in Montana. The Montana Highway Patrol confirmed he had no outstanding warrants prior to the pursuit.