High-speed chase from Lewiston to Winchester

nez-perce-county-sheriff

The Nez Perce County Sheriff’s Department engaged in pursuit late last night. Read the report below…

On 01-28-2020 at about 2225, A Nez Perce County Deputy stopped a Tan 2005 Ford Escape near 3rd Ave. North and Liberty Mart North for speeding. As the Deputy was talking to the male driver and female passenger telling the driver to put the vehicle in park,  the driver of the Escape drove away from the Deputy. The Deputy ran back to his patrol vehicle and followed the Escape. The Escape drove East on Highway 12 to the interchange of Highway 12 and US 95, then continued south on US 95. The Deputy continued to follow the Escape South on US 95 with his patrol vehicle emergency lights and siren on. As this continued, other Nez Perce County Deputies responded, along with Nez Perce Tribal Police, and Idaho State Police Troopers following the Escape. The Escape continued to fail to stop on US 95 southbound, leading the law enforcement officers into Winchester, Idaho.

The Escape stopped twice in the Winchester area, and as Officers tried to make contact with the occupants. The Escape drove away each time, continuing to elude law enforcement.  The Escape finally stopped in Winchester on Camas St. and the male and female took off running from the Escape, on foot. Law Enforcement Officers followed and caught both of them a short distance from the Escape, at a nearby residence. The male was identified as twenty-one-year-old Tyler M. Stepelton out of Montana, and the passenger was a sixteen-year-old female out of Montana. Lewis County Sheriff’s Office arrived on the scene and took over the investigation. The female passenger was a reported missing runaway juvenile from Montana and Stepelton had Felony warrants out of Montana, along with additional charges coming from the investigation.

During the incident, there were no injuries and no accidents as a result of the eluding.