HAVRE, Mont. (NMB) – A Rocky Boy man who was alleged to have engaged in a vehicle pursuit last month in Havre has been arraigned in Hill County District Court.
29-year-old Jerome Lane Bigknife appeared before Judge Kaydee Snipes-Ruiz virtually on Monday in Hill County District Court on Monday and pleaded not guilty to felony criminal endangerment and the misdemeanors of fleeing or eluding a Peace Officer, obstructing a police officer, and driving with a suspended or revoked license.
Initial reports suggested that Bigknife was also facing other pending charges, including felony motor vehicle theft, but those charges were not included in the District Court case.
Bigknife remains in the Hill County Detention Center.
The affidavit filed in the case alleges that on the afternoon of March 4th, a Havre Police officer located Bigknife, who had active warrants for his arrest, in a vehicle at the Duck Inn parking lot.
Law enforcement attempted to conduct a traffic stop, at which point Bigknife allegedly sped up his vehicle and attempted to flee law enforcement.
The affidavit alleges that Bigknife drove as fast as 45 miles an hour in a 25 mph zone, failed to stop at multiple stop signs, and forced at least one vehicle to pull off to the side of the road. He is believed to have driven about 75 miles an hour on 1st Street, and continued west on US 2 at about 85 miles an hour.
Bigknife then turned into the Wal-Mart parking lot, nearly hitting a pedestrian. Bigknife then opened the driver’s side door and ran into Wal-Mart. He was caught by law enforcement outside the automotive department and taken into custody.
Shari Damron contributed to this report
