Havre man gets jail time in police chase

A Havre man has been sentenced to 90 days in jail in connection with a police chase in Havre.

David Lee McKinney, 26, appeared in state District Court on Thursday on two felony and three misdemeanor charges stemming from the incident last year. During the chase, he had methamphetamine and marijuana in the car.

McKinney, who is in federal custody after pleading guilty to a felony gun charge, was transported from Great Falls to Havre to appear on the state charges.

He pleaded guilty Thursday to felony criminal possession of dangerous drugs with intent to distribute, felony possession of property subject to forfeiture, and misdemeanor negligent endangerment. Prosecutors plan to dismiss misdemeanor charges of possession of drug paraphernalia and criminal mischief in exchange for the guilty pleas.

Judge John Warner sentenced McKinney to three years in Montana State Prison, all suspended, for the drug possession charge, and 90 days in jail for negligent endangerment. He ordered McKinney to forfeit $52 in suspected drug money, and the 1987 Oldsmobile he used in the chase.

McKinney was returned to federal custody following Thursday's hearing to continue serving a 46-month sentence on the federal gun charge. He was arrested in December of 2001 for selling a stolen handgun, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office.

He was on probation for unreated charges at the time.

Thursday's charges stemmed from his arrest on May 15 after he led officers on a car chase through residential areas in Havre at speeds in excess of 55 mph.

According to the charging document, officers attempted to pull McKinney over for speeding. McKinney drove through a stop sign and continued for several blocks before yielding to officers along Fifth Avenue.

Officers were advised that McKinney had an outstanding contempt of court warrant, and asked him to exit his vehicle, the document said. McKinney started his car, and drove off. Officers pursued McKinney as he drove through traffic, making illegal passes and speeding by a school bus, the document said.

He ditched the car near Havre Middle School and fled on foot, toting a black bag. A Montana Highway Patrol officer apprehended McKinney after a lengthy chase, according to the document. He was placed in the rear of a patrol car.

McKinney kicked out a window in the patrol car and jumped out while the car was traveling at 30 mph, the document said. He again fled on foot and was found hiding underneath a vehicle near the bus garage at Havre Middle School.

Officers used pepper spray to subdue McKinney, the document said.

A man reported that during the chase McKinney drove through his yard, knocking over a fence, resulting in the criminal mischief charge.

Following his arrest, Tri-Agency Task Force agents searched the bag McKinney was carrying. According to the charging document, agents found more than a pound of marijuana, six grams of meth, $52 in cash, and assorted items of drug paraphernalia wrapped in an American flag, including snort tubes and a razor blade, the document said.

A search of McKinney's vehicle revealed two pipes with meth and marijuana residue, the document said.