Westbound police chase down Eastbound I-90 ends with wanted man’s arrest

After failing to appear in court, a suspect charged with stalking led Kootenai County Sheriff’s deputies on a chase on Interstate 90 before being arrested.

Jacob S. Frey, 37, failed to appear in court on a felony stalking charge, and a bench warrant was issued for his arrest.

Deputies had been in court waiting for the hearing. After Frey did not appear, his vehicle was spotted in the courthouse parking lot, according to a sheriff’s department statement.

As deputies approached the car, it pulled away and drove north on Northwest Boulevard.

After attempting a pursuit intervention technique (PIT) maneuver, the car rammed a patrol vehicle and continued north on Northwest Boulevard.

Frey turned onto Interstate 90, and at Idaho state Highway 41, the car crossed the median and began heading westbound in the eastbound lane.

The car was stopped at Greensferry and I-90.

Deputies gave Frey commands to exit the car but he refused. A K-9 was used to get him out of the vehicle and into custody.

During a search of the car, deputies found a loaded AR-15 style rifle.

The chase caused traffic to back up for several miles in both directions, according to a sheriff’s department statement.

Frey was taken to Kootenai Health and treated for a dog bite before being jailed.

Federal weapons charges will be sought by the North Idaho Violence Crimes Task Force.

Three county vehicles were damaged in the chase and one civilian car was damaged on Northwest Boulevard. No deputies or civilians were injured.