High (and low) speed chase ends near Sleeping Buffalo

On the evening of 15, May 2018 Blaine County Dispatch received multiple calls of a vehicle without its lights on swerving on Highway 2, headed east and forcing other motorists off the roadway.

Blaine County Deputies responded and located the vehicle, but the driver failed to yield to the Deputy’s attempts to stop. During the Blaine County pursuit, Tribal Law Enforcement joined the chase, and Montana Highway Patrol and Phillips County Law Enforcement were notified to assist.

A registration check on the vehicle revealed the owner to be Gregory Hasenour of Whitefish, Mont. A “Be on the Look Out” ( BOLO) for Hasenour had been released earlier by Flathead County 911 asking for a welfare check as he may be suffering from mental illness. Hasenour was considered to be heavily armed and a danger to law enforcement.

When MHP and Phillips County Sheriff’s Deputies joined the pursuit, spike strips were deployed flattening two of the suspect’s tires, but the vehicle continued. A PIT maneuver was performed and an attempt to box in the car. The suspect used his vehicle to ram patrol vehicles resulting in incapacitating damage to the MHP vehicle and moderate damage to a Phillips County vehicle. As the suspect vehicle continued toward Malta, spike strips were again deployed flattening all tires, but the vehicle continued on the four rims. The pursuit ended east of the Sleeping Buffalo turn off when deputies boxed in the suspect and after a short foot chase and Taser deployment the suspect was taken into custody.

During the pursuit, speeds reached up to 70 mph and as low as five mph riding only on the rims of the car. The suspect would stop periodically and each time a deputy would engage in conversation with him to end the pursuit.

Although the pursuit was allowed to continue at slow speeds on Highway 2 through Malta, should there have been an escalation of a threat to law enforcement or the public the incident could have been terminated immediately.

Charges will be filed in district court against Hasenour for numerous violations in Phillips County to include felony assault on a peace officer. Hasenour is being held in the Valley County Detention Center and is presumed innocent until proven guilty.

Sheriff Moran would like to thank and commend all law enforcement officers involved from Blaine County, Ft Belknap, Montana Highway Patrol, and Phillips County Sheriff’s Office for the professionalism, restraint, and compassion they showed in resolving this situation without injury or loss of life.