Lake County laser suspect captured
The man wanted for allegedly aiming a laser pointer at a Lake County Sheriff’s deputy last month was apprehended Wednesday morning.
Marlo Albia Tonasket, 36, was captured at about 11:15 a.m. Wednesday in the Mission area, according to Lake County Sheriff Don Bell.
Emergency dispatchers received a call from a woman who said her Jeep, a coat and set of keys were stolen at about 7:30 a.m. Wednesday morning.
Tonasket was located after several law enforcement agencies responded to a Mission address where they found Tonasket with the coat.
Tonasket was charged with felony motor vehicle theft, felony possession of dangerous drugs, misdemeanor possession of drug paraphernalia and misdemeanor obstructing a peace officer.
He is being held at the Lake County Jail.
Tonasket is accused of aiming a laser light from a firearm or laser pointer at the chest of a Lake County Sheriff’s deputy at 5 a.m. Nov. 22.
He had eluded capture until Wednesday.
On the morning of the laser assault, a deputy was walking from his home in the Ronan area to his marked patrol vehicle when he noticed a laser dot on his chest, Undersheriff Ben Woods said in a press release.
“Fearing he was possibly going to be shot, he sought cover and observed that the source of the laser was a vehicle parked at the end of his driveway,” the press release said.
“The deputy then gave chase to the vehicle and the pursuit lasted approximately 10 minutes and reached speeds of 80 miles per hour on paved and gravel county roads.”
The pursuit, which included Lake County sheriff’s deputies and Flathead Tribal police, ended on the U.S. 93 Frontage Road in Pablo when the driver, identified as Tonasket, fled on foot.
A passenger, Matthew Manyhides of Polson, was arrested on outstanding warrants for felony possession of drugs and DUI. A female passenger was detained during the investigation, but later released without charges.
Tonasket has an outstanding warrant from Shoshone County, Idaho, for possession of stolen property.