Wanted Man Takes Police On Wild High Speed Chase Endangering Other Drivers

51 year-old Curtis Gainer is in the Missoula County Jail after allegedly stealing a car and leading police on a high speed chase that eventually turned into a footrace and ended in his capture by K-9 officers.

Public Information Officer Travis Welsh said the incident began after officers tracked Gainer down for outstanding warrants in the 2200 block of South Fifth Street West.

"At about 10 o'clock on Wednesday night police observed Mr. Gainer exit a residence, get into a car and leave," Welsh began. "An officer attempted to make a traffic stop but Gainer refused to stop and instead sped away eventually crashing the vehicle he was driving on South Fourth Street West."

Welsh said the vehicle turned out to be stolen.

"Officers learned that the car Gainer was driving was not his, and the owner had not given him permission to drive it," Welsh continued. "During the course of the relatively short pursuit, Gainer traveled at high speeds, and passed other vehicles the opposing lanes of traffic on narrow residential streets."

Welsh said once the car crashed, Gainer took off running.

"He attempted to run on foot, however, responding officers established a perimeter and Gainer was eventually located after an MPD canine team tracked hi to an otherwise unoccupied vehicle where he was hiding inside, and was taken into custody without further incident," he said.

Gainer appeared in Missoula Justice Court on Friday afternoon and was placed on $25,000 bond.