Paul Ryan Bird remains in the Missoula County Detention Center on $50,000 bail and faces seven counts of felony criminal endangerment and six misdemeanor charges.
Bird was traveling eastbound on East Broadway when a trooper with the Montana Highway Patrol noticed his vehicle did not have a working license plate light.
During the traffic stop, the trooper noticed a strong odor of alcohol on the man's breath and spotted a beer bottle inside the vehicle, according to charging documents.
Bird then handed the patrolman a false driver's license and said he had no proof of insurance or registration, records state.
When the patrolman asked the man to exit his vehicle to ensure he was safe to drive, Bird responded, “Yep. See ya later,” and sped away from the stop.
After exiting at Bonner, Bird led the patrolman on an hourlong pursuit at speeds between 80 and 90 miles per hour through construction in Milltown and northbound along Highway 200.
Bird continually crossed into the opposite lane of traffic, forcing vehicles onto the roadside to avoid collisions, and at one point nearly crashing his own vehicle after swerving, charging documents said.
After following Bird onto Highway 83 at Clearwater Junction, the patrolman called for MHP dispatch to lay spike strips across the road.
Bird's vehicle ran over a strip at milepost 13, slowed, and turned into a parking lot where the patrolman made the arrest.
During his transport to the Missoula County detention facility, Bird switched between compliant and verbally abusive behaviors, according to the trooper's report.
At the jail, a misdemeanor amount of marijuana was found inside a package of cigarettes Bird had asked the patrolman to retrieve from his vehicle during arrest.
Along with criminal possession of dangerous drugs, Bird was booked at the center on misdemeanor charges of obstructing a peace officer, driving under the influence of alcohol (second offense), fleeing from or eluding a peace officer, failure to carry or exhibit proof of insurance upon request, and open container.
The Missoula County public defender requested that bail be set at $25,000 when Bird, who said he installs flooring with his stepdad, appeared in Justice Court on Monday.
“His family needs him for his job,” said public defender Brian Yowell. “Fifty-thousand dollars is out of his family's reach.”
Justice of the Peace John Odlin responded in favor of the state.
“I understand that these are only alleged violations, but we have to think about community safety here, and I think this is a substantial risk,” Odlin said.
Bird told the judge he does not have a vehicle, and therefore would not be a flight risk.
“I have work with my family. I live here with my girlfriend and my pets,” he said. “I have no reason to leave, and I am not a flight risk.”
But Odlin reiterated the importance of community safety.
“Sir, I'm not concerned about being a flight risk,” he said. “Community safety is paramount here. So the bond is going to be set at $50,000.”
The case will proceed in Missoula County District Court later this month.
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