By Ryan Lewallen, County 17
A Montana man with a federal warrant was arrested Friday after he reportedly led law enforcement on a short pursuit and attempted to break into a home to hide, Campbell County Undersheriff Quentin Reynolds said.
The suspect, 37-year-old Johnathan Queen from Miles City, Montana, reportedly fled from a high-risk traffic stop on a gray 2006 Nissan Altima north of the Haight Road on Highway 59 around 3 p.m. Dec. 10, Reynolds said.
Queen, a passenger in the vehicle, reportedly waited until Campbell County sheriff’s deputies had ordered the driver, a 35-year-old male, outside the car before he jumped into the driver’s seat and sped away north towards Gillette, leaving the 35-year-old with deputies.
As he fled, Queen reportedly drove multiple times into the opposite lane of travel, but Gillette Police Department officers were able to close off southbound Highway 59 while deputies spiked the vehicle twice, causing its tires to disintegrate.
The vehicle exited the roadway near Roberto’s Café before coming to a stop, after which Queen fled on foot while being pursued by GPD officers and CCSO deputies, per Reynolds, who added that the suspect attempted to break into a home to hide.
Unable to access the home, Queen continued to flee on foot before being stopped by a GPD K9 and was taken into custody following a brief struggle, Reynolds said.
Queen was promptly transported to the emergency room for a dog bite to his arm. Deputies charged him with eluding, interference, reckless endangering, reckless driving, and criminal entry, per Reynolds.
No action has been taken regarding the 35-year-old male driver of the Altima.
