Man allegedly leads police on pursuit with child in car

SPIRIT LAKE — A 39-year-old Spirit Lake man who allegedly led police on a pursuit with his 8-year-old son in the vehicle on Saturday night was arrested on felony eluding and misdemeanor injury to child charges.

Gregg James Miller was arrested in Spirit Lake after finally pulling over for police in pursuit, according to Spirit Lake Police.

"He pulled over next to a family friend's home and apparently told the boy to run inside and he was arrested without further incident," Spirit Lake Police Chief Keith Hutcheson said.

Spirit Lake Officer Dennis Sanchez responded to a verbal domestic call around 6 p.m. on Saturday. As he was speaking with Miller's wife in the 32600 block of Eighth Avenue, Sanchez and the woman noticed Miller down the street.

"She was worried about his driving habits (after drinking) due to past incidents," Hutcheson said.

"He was gone when we got there, but showed up while we were on scene."

As Sanchez approached Miller, the suspect took off in a car with his son, according to police.

"He went through several stop signs and crossed Highway 41 without stopping," Hutcheson said, adding that speeds topped 40 mph in 15 mph zones. "Witnesses said he also drove close to two kids on bicycles at high rates of speed."

The pursuit, which both began and ended in the city, ended near Second and Nash.

Miller told police he didn't immediately pull over because he had been drinking. The boy was returned to his mother and not injured.

Miller was convicted of vehicular manslaughter in Bonner County in 2004. He received a prison sentence of three years fixed and two years indeterminate.

He was booked in the Kootenai County jail 11 previous times from 1997 to 2008, including for DUI, drugs, driving without privileges and probation violation.