Raymond faces endangerment charge after November pursuit

A 25-year-old man who evaded law enforcement personnel from multiple agencies last year now faces a felony criminal endangerment charge in Lincoln County District Court.

Mitchell Bear Raymond pleaded not guilty at his May 10 arraignment. An omnibus hearing is scheduled for July 26 with a pretrial conference to follow on Aug. 20.

Montana Highway Patrol Trooper Eric Power teamed up with Lincoln County Sheriff’s deputies Nov. 23 in an attempt to catch Raymond as he crossed the county line. According to court documents, Power and the pair of local lawmen — Deputy James Derryberry and Detective Dave Hall — were working off of information that a man, identified as Raymond, with multiple felony warrants was headed toward the county on U.S. Highway 2. The trio was driving toward the county line when Hall spotted the man headed westbound in a blue Dodge Dakota.

Power wrote in an affidavit that he flipped on his front radar and recorded the motorist going 76 miles per hour, about six miles per hour above the posted speed limit. As Power turned around and began to pursue, the vehicle turned onto Middle Thompson Lake Road.

Power wrote that he hit his lights as Hall joined him in chasing after the vehicle. Eventually, the two arrived at a T-intersection and split up. Power went left and followed a stretch of road that merged back with U.S. Highway 2, where he saw the Dakota headed eastbound.

Power wrote that the change in direction and use of excessive speed confirmed to him that the Dakota was trying to evade law enforcement. Notifying dispatch, Power activated his sirens. He reported hitting speeds of 124 miles per hour crossing back into Flathead County, but was unable to catch up with the Dakota.

Power lost sight of the vehicle after it turned onto Thompson River Road, citing the winding nature of the road and icy conditions.

Back in Lincoln County, Derryberry and Hall found a bag allegedly tossed in the road from the vehicle. Opening the bag, they pulled out methamphetamine, marijuana, a meth pipe and a large amount of cash, according to court documents.

In his affidavit, Power wrote that law enforcement in Sanders County stopped the Dakota. They detained a passenger, but Raymond — who was behind the wheel — took off on foot, Power wrote.

Criminal endangerment carries a maximum penalty of 10 years with the Montana State Prison and a fine of up to $50,000.