Alleged car thief leads police on chase from Columbia Falls to Browning

A Browning man is in custody after he allegedly stole a car in Columbia Falls and led police on a chase across the valley to Browning before he was eventually stopped on a gravel road off Highway 89.

According to a press release from the Flathead County Sheriff’s Department, at about 3:30 p.m. Monday Theo Old Chief, 31, allegedly stole a rig from Town Pump in Columbia Falls.

Deputies saw him in Columbia Heights and tried to stop him in Hungry Horse, but Old Chief was able to elude them.

They continued to follow Old Chief on Highway 2, but gave up the pursuit because of danger to other vehicles and “unsafe” driving of Old Chief.

The Two Bear Air helicopter was able to locate him driving over Marias Pass and Glacier County Sheriff Deputies there deployed spike strips just east of the pass.

One tire blew out, but Old Chief kept going until he eventually stopped. He is being held in the Bureau of Indian Affairs detention center in Browning pending charges from thee Flathead County Attorney’s office.

The incident remains under investigation by a multitude of law enforcement.