Great Falls man pleads innocent to motorcycle chase charges
By CHELSI MOY Tribune Staff Writer
A Great Falls man who led sheriff's deputies on a two-hour manhunt along the Missouri River last month after crashing a stolen motorcycle pleaded innocent Thursday in District Court.
Lance Doty, 20, pleaded innocent to felony theft, felony criminal endangerment and three misdemeanor charges: reckless eluding, obstructing a police officer and speeding.
Around 1 a.m. on Sept. 7, sheriff's deputies spotted a motorcycle with no license plates driving north on 13th St. S., according to court documents.
Doty allegedly refused to pull over when deputies flashed their overhead lights.
Deputies followed the motorcycle past mile marker 15 on Eden Road where the pavement turns to gravel, causing the motorcycle to wreck.
Although prosecutors allege the motorcycle reached speeds of 100 mph to flee authorities, it was traveling four to five mph at the time of the wreck, according to court documents.
Doty allegedly took off running, leaving his pregnant 17-year-old girlfriend behind, according to court documents. The girl suffered minor bruises.
Seven hours later, another deputy was notified of a male matching Doty's description walking along Wilson Butte Road. Doty took off again when he spotted authorities, according to court documents.
Five or six deputies searched for nearly two hours along the Missouri River before spotting Doty hiding behind some bushes. When he was surrounded, he complied with officers and was taken into custody, according to court documents.
Prosecutors allege the motorcycle Doty was driving was reported stolen out of Missoula County.
He is at the Cascade County regional jail on $15,000 bond.
Topic: Man pleads innocent to motorcycle chase charges/MT (Read 1923 times)