Man who led authorities on high speed chase along U.S. Highway 2 arraigned

A man who led multiple law enforcement agencies on a high speed chase down U.S. Highway 2 last month pleaded not guilty to 10 felony charges in Lincoln District Court on April 6.

Jason William Garberg, 43, faces one count of partner or family member assault, third or subsequent offense, and nine counts of criminal endangerment. He is accused of assaulting his girlfriend March 20 before fleeing authorities first in a vehicle and then on foot.

Authorities began searching for Garberg after his girlfriend approached a Montana Highway Patrol trooper after the two had a falling out. The couple had recently moved to Libby, court documents said, and began arguing while out having lunch.

The victim told authorities Garberg had left in the middle of the meal. When she arrived at their Dakota Avenue home, she found him packing his belongings, court documents said. Several possessions were left broken and strewn about the apartment.

He then began to verbally abuse her, yelling and calling her names, court document said. He loomed over her and when their faces were mere inches apart, he spat in her face, the victim told law enforcement. Fearing being physically struck, the victim retreated to the parking lot of a nearby casino. She later told authorities she was the victim in two prior partner or family member assault charges filed against Garberg in Flathead County.

A casino attendant there told the victim he heard the yelling and pointed out a nearby Montana Highway Patrol vehicle parked nearby, according to court documents.

While the victim was recounting the story with Libby Police officer Jonathan Graham, her phone kept receiving calls and voicemails. In an affidavit, Graham wrote that Garberg left a message saying that he was looking for his dog and planned on leaving town as soon as he found the pet.

While a Montana Highway Patrol trooper and another city police officer went off to search for Garberg, Graham escorted the woman back to her apartment. While examining the scene and looking for signs of a struggle, Graham recounted spotting a gold-colored vehicle — matching the description of Garberg’s Ford Explorer — parked across the street.

Telling the victim to stay inside, Graham approached the parked SUV. He found Garberg kneeling in the road in front of the vehicle, apparently crying. Garberg shouted that he only wanted his dog back, Graham wrote in his affidavit.

Ignoring Graham’s directions to come and talk, Garberg hopped into the Explorer and fled the scene. Graham radioed Libby Police Sgt. Christopher Pape, who began pursuing Garberg, and then headed back to his patrol car.

By the time Graham joined the pursuit, Pape had radioed that Garberg was driving southbound at speeds above 90 miles an hour. As they approached Whiskey Hill, Graham reported that Garberg was driving “in excess of 100 miles per hour.”

Writing in a separate affidavit, Pape reported hitting speeds of 110 miles per hour.

At this point, Deputy Brent Faulkner of the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office, who unsuccessfully attempted to slow Garberg using stop sticks, joined the duo. Montana Highway Patrol Trooper Bryce Ford also joined the chase. He eventually took over as the lead pursuit vehicle after the speeding vehicles shot through the construction zone on U.S. Highway 2, Graham recounted.

Garberg turned onto Thompson River Road, later abandoning his vehicle and fleeing on foot. In his affidavit, Graham wrote that the chase took him about 55.2 miles from Libby.

While Graham was recalled to Libby, Pape stayed in pursuit. In his affidavit, the police sergeant recalls getting aid from a property owner near where Garberg abandoned his SUV. She pointed authorities down a nearby hill.

By this time, Pape, Ford and the responding Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office deputies received backup. Pape recounted that Flathead County Sheriff’s Office deputies had joined the search as well as Amtrak Police and additional Montana Highway Patrol troopers. Two Bear Air also arrived overhead to aid in the search, he wrote.

After Brandon Holzer, a detective with Lincoln County, spotted tracks about a mile and a half away from the abandoned vehicle, he and Ford located Garberg and arrested him.

Garberg is slated to return to court for a May 15 omnibus hearing. His pretrial was scheduled for July 6 with a trial start date of Aug. 11.