Hot Springs man pleads not guilty to pursuit charges
courtesy photo
Daryl McDougal
Hey savvy news reader! Thanks for choosing local.
You are now reading
1 of 3 free articles.
POLSON — A Hot Springs man is accused of leading police on a pursuit in the St. Ignatius area in early October. Daryl Able McDougal, 22, entered a plea of not guilty at District Court in Polson on Oct. 28 to felony criminal endangerment.
According to court records, on Oct. 9, St. Ignatius Police Officer Jesse Girsch observed a green Honda Accord traveling at approximately 65 miles per hour in a 35 mph zone. Officer Girsch attempted to stop the Honda, but it took off. Girsch observed the Honda traveling approximately 85 mph along Foothills Road when it passed another vehicle. The Honda also failed to stop at several stop signs and almost hit a front-end loader on Sabine Road. Montana Highway Patrol Trooper Wayne Bieber later detained a man walking down Mountain View Drive. He was determined to be McDougal and the alleged driver of the green Honda Accord. McDougal said he fled because he didn’t want to go back to prison. McDougal was on probation stemming from a drug possession conviction in Lake County from 2019. A search of the green Honda Accord allegedly turned up drugs and items to ingest drugs.
Judge Deborah “Kim” Christopher set a jury trial for March 7.
