Early on Valentine’s Day, 61 year-old Gary Dejarlais was allegedly driving the wrong way on Highway 93 North and nearly collided with a Montana Highway Patrol trooper.

A pursuit followed, in which, according to court records, continued the wrong way down Highway 93 and onto Interstate 90, where he also drove the wrong way. Dejarlais nearly collided with several vehicles before his vehicle was disabled by stop sticks that had been placed in the road.

At his appearance in Missoula Justice Court on Tuesday, Dejarlais was charged with several felonies, including two counts of criminal endangerment and a fourth count of driving under the influence. Deputy County Attorney Selene Koepke asked Judge Karen Orzech for bail of $50,000.

“The defendant was driving the wrong way down Highway 93 and nearly collided with Trooper Palmer with the Montana Highway Patrol,” Koepke said. “He then led trooper Palmer on a wrong way chase, this time down I-90 and caused a motorist to take evasive action to avoid a head-on collision. He appeared to be under the influence of drugs. A blood sample was taken and the results are forthcoming. He does have four prior DUI’s on his record and is clearly a danger to the community given his behavior.”

Judge Orzech agreed, and placed Dejarlais back in jail on $50,000 bond.

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