July 1 – A motorist fleeing from police Saturday night crashed into a parked pickup truck on Kelly Road near Kalispell after Flathead County Sheriff’s Office officers performed a maneuver designed to cause suspects to lose control of their vehicle.
The suspect, later identified as Derek Bruce Bigman, 34, of Kalispell, later attempted to flee on foot, Sheriff Brian Heino said in a news release. Officers arrested him after using a Taser, he said.
Bigman is being held in the county jail on pending charges of criminal threats and criminal possession of dangerous drugs, as well as a probation violation. He also faces misdemeanor charges of driving under the influence, fleeing or eluding police, and driving without headlights or taillights.
Heino said the chase began around 11:30 p.m. after officers spotted a vehicle traveling on U.S. 2 near River Road in Evergreen without headlights or taillights. Bigman allegedly evaded officers attempting a traffic stop by driving onto the sidewalk and nearly hitting parked vehicles before continuing on U.S. 2 toward Kalispell.
During the ensuing chase, Bigman reportedly drove in the wrong lane and ignored traffic signs and signals.
The officers saw his alleged driving as a risk to the public and used a technique known as a precision immobilization technique, Heino said. The maneuver forces a fleeing vehicle sideways and brings it to a stop.
According to Heino, Bigman is also a registered violent offender.
