Vehicle pursuit leads to arrest

A 32-year-old man who has been booked into the Kootenai County Jail 30 times, was arrested Friday on suspicion of multiple charges and booked into the jail again. The arrest came following a vehicle pursuit.

A Kootenai County Sheriff’s detective assigned to the North Idaho Violent Crimes Task Force, located Mitchell C. Michael, a wanted person, around 4 p.m. Friday, said a news release from the sheriff’s office.

Michael was driving a vehicle near the intersection of Fourth Street and Best Avenue.

Law enforcement had previous information Michael was armed and was in possession of illegal drugs.

A Coeur d’Alene police officer initiated a traffic stop and Michael fled in the vehicle.

KCSO K9 handler Deputy Nelson, took over the pursuit as it went east.

Michael drove into a dead end road at Rose Lane near Ninth Street, where he abandoned the vehicle and fled on foot.

Nelson quickly deployed K9 Pogo. The dog pursued Michael and made contact.

Michael was taken into custody without further incident.

A loaded pistol and methamphetamine were located at the location of the arrest.

Michael was treated at Kootenai Health for the K9 contact wound and then transported to the Kootenai County Jail.

He was arrested for unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon, possession of methamphetamine, attempting to elude a police officer, resisting/obstructing a peace officer, and the original arrest warrant for resisting/obstructing a peace officer.

Michael’s previous bookings into the jail were for robbery, drug possession, battery, probation violations and numerous other offenses.