Man cites love as reason for fleeing from deputies on Valentine’s Day

True love doesn’t usually result in felony charges, but it did for one man who led deputies on a high speed chase from the West Plains to Spokane Tuesday.

Woodrow B. Bearchild, 31, told deputies after he was captured that he ran because he wanted to practice his driving skills and because he wanted to spend more time with his girlfriend on Valentine’s Day.

A deputy spotted a Dodge Caravan registered to a wanted man in the Wal-Mart parking lot in Airway Heights and attempted to pull it over as it drove away. Instead the driver, later identified as Bearchild, sped through Airway Heights and then took Highway 2 to Interstate 90.

He repeatedly ran red lights as he led police as far east as Market Street and as far north as Francis Avenue before his car broke down and police stopped him near Jackson Ave. and Washington, according to court documents.

Deputies reportedly found a dozen hypodermic needles under the front seat, one of them filled with heroin, according to court documents.

Bearchild was arrested on a felony Department of Corrections warrant and on new charges of possession of a controlled substance and attempting to elude police. The Caravan was registered to Bearchild’s father, who also has a warrant out for his arrest, said Sheriff’s Office spokesman Deputy Mark Gregory.