High Speed Pursuit And Arrest

Michael Cromwell, 40, of Bangor, Maine, drove into and around a traffic control sign and up to a closed window at the West Entrance Station at 8:45 p.m. on Friday, July 6th. An entrance station employee, suspecting that he was intoxicated, told Cromwell to wait there, then called park dispatch. Just as ranger Brad Blickhan arrived, Cromwell made a U-turn and headed out of the park at a high rate of speed. Blickhan followed and attempted the stop it by turning on his lights and siren as it reached speeds of 60 mph in a 25 mph zone and exited the park into the crowded area of downtown West Glacier. Cromwell’s vehicle slid into a traffic island, nearly colliding with two cars at the intersection of Highway 2, then headed west toward the town of Columbia Falls some 15 miles away. As Cromwell’s vehicle reached speeds in excess of 90 mph, Blickhan broke off his pursuit and asked for assistance from the Flathead County Sheriff’s Office. Shortly thereafter, a county deputy took up the pursuit and was joined by two Columbia Falls police cars as Cromwell roared into their city. A Montana Highway Patrol trooper deployed stop sticks inside the city, but Cromwell drove on at about 45 mph with two flat tires. The Columbia Falls police chief joined the pursuit – as he blocked Cromwell’s vehicle, his car was struck in the rear end. This collision stopped Cromwell and he was taken into custody by the deputy who had been pursuing him. Cromwell complained of chest pains, was transported to a local hospital by Three Rivers EMS, then incarcerated by rangers at the Flathead County Detention Center. Cromwell has been charged by the NPS with fleeing and eluding, with the case still under investigation and additional charges pending. He has also been charged in Flathead County District Court with two felony counts of criminal endangerment, one count of felony DUI, a misdemeanor count of criminal mischief, and a misdemeanor count of fleeing and eluding police. His bond was set at $75,000 and the state of Maine has an extradition detainer on him for several warrants in that state, including fleeing and eluding police. Local media interest was high.