Jul. 4—A K-9 snapped up an accused drug dealer in the country illegally last week after the man led Flathead County Sheriff’s Office deputies on a high-speed chase through a residential neighborhood.
Prosecutors charged Baldemar Duarte-Nieto with felony criminal endangerment and misdemeanor fleeing or eluding a peace officer. Held in the county jail with bail set at $100,000, Duarte-Nieto is expected to appear before Judge Dan Wilson in Flathead County District Court on July 10 for his arraignment.
Deputies began chasing Duarte-Nieto on June 26 after receiving a tip from federal authorities about a known drug offender in the area. Duarte-Nieto has an active warrant out of Washington for trafficking heroin as well as a federal immigration violation for re-entering the country after he was previously deported, according to court documents.
A deputy spotted Duarte-Nieto traveling southbound on the U.S. 93 Bypass near Four Mile Drive at about 3:45 p.m. The deputy followed Duarte-Nieto to the roundabout at the Foys Lake Road exit, where another patrol car was situated to block him.
Duarte-Nieto initially stopped his car but turned and took off eastbound on South Meridian Road after a deputy attempted to approach his vehicle, court documents said. In his flight, he allegedly hit speeds of up to 80 mph.
One deputy hopped back in his vehicle and pursued Duarte-Nieto as he skirted onto Fifth Street West.
Duarte-Nieto allegedly slammed into a tree and the side of a car parked in the driveway of a nearby house before fleeing his vehicle on foot. Four people were in the parked car at the time of the collision, court documents said. It is unclear whether any of them sustained injuries.
As Duarte-Nieto allegedly dashed for a nearby fence, the deputy signaled their dog to give chase. The dog nabbed Duarte-Nieto’s right foot as he attempted to scale the fence, first sinking its teeth into his shoe before redirecting a second bite to the man’s calf.
The deputy reported that Duarte-Nieto looked back at the dog and smiled.
If convicted, Duarte-Nieto faces up to 10 years in Montana State Prison and a $50,000 fine for criminal endangerment and up to one year and a $2,000 fine for fleeing from or eluding a peace officer.
Duarte-Nieto has a federal immigration warrant for deportation under the Laken Riley Act, according to court documents.
Reporter Hailey Smalley may be reached at 758-4433 or hsmalley@dailyinterlake.com.