Chase in Post Falls zips past 100 mph

By BRIAN WALKER

Staff Writer

POST FALLS — A high-speed chase that started in the Post Falls area and ended inside the city with the suspect fleeing on foot prompted three schools to be on alert on Thursday.

According to the Kootenai County Sheriff's Office, a deputy saw a vehicle speeding in the area of West Seltice Way near North Pleasant View Road around 11:45 a.m.

The driver allegedly did not pull over and a pursuit followed.

"Speeds at times exceeded 100 mph during the pursuit," a KCSO press release states. "While the deputy was waiting for an intersection to be safe to travel through, the suspect fled on foot from the vehicle after the suspect’s car stopped working."

The pursuit ended in the area of Greensferry Road and east Horsehaven Avenue near three schools.

Post Falls Police and Idaho State Police assisted the KCSO, forming a perimeter to find the suspect while a K-9 unit was called to track the suspect. At that time, the driver was not located.

However, a short time later, a suspect in the case was arrested on an unrelated warrant.

"Due to it being an unrelated warrant and they are only a suspect in an active investigation, we are not releasing further information at this time," KCSO Sgt. Mark Ellis said, adding that the age, gender and hometown of the person arrested was not being released late Thursday afternoon. "As the investigation continues, we will follow up with details as we can."

An investigation into identifying the driver during the pursuit continues, Ellis said.

Ellis said he could not release whether there were two suspects in the case or if the driver was the suspect arrested.

Post Falls police Capt. Jason Mealer said officers responded to Prairie View and Greensferry elementary schools as a precaution while the search for the suspect was conducted.

"Security was sent to make sure there were no issues, and there were none," Mealer said.

Post Falls High has a school-resource officer at that school.