Traffic on Brooks Stopped for 20 Minutes After a High-Speed Chase in Missoula

This story was updated at 4:10 p.m. on December 1st, 2021.

At 1:34 p.m. on Tuesday, a Missoula Police Department officer observed a vehicle with expired registration. According to Detective Lieutenant Eddie McLean, that vehicle also matched the description of a suspect involved in thefts within Missoula.

“An officer attempted to initiate a traffic stop, which resulted in the vehicle travelling eastbound on 14^th Street at a high rate of speed to Russell Street,” McLean said. “The vehicle went southbound on Russell Street toward malfunction junction at speeds approaching 60 miles per hour. Ultimately, the vehicle ended up coming to a stop at Brooks and Fairview due to congested traffic.”

The pursuit lasted approximately four minutes and it took officers another 20 minutes to get the driver into custody. The driver was later identified as 25-year-old Casey Deschamps.

“He was on probation, had a warrant for his arrest, and was taken into custody,” McLean said. “He was transported to the Missoula County Detention facility where he is also being held for criminal endangerment. Although he was initially uncooperative, he did ultimately comply with officers and was taken into custody without any injury to him or any other parties.”

At 1:58 p.m., Deschamps was taken into custody.

“A tow truck ended up responding,” McLean said. “During that time, it was a full 20 minutes before he was taken into custody while officers were negotiating with him to get him into custody. Brooks was shut down for 20 minutes near the intersection of Fairview.”

Traffic was extremely congested during the incident, but it cleared up shortly after law enforcement vehicles dispersed.

Deschamps is currently being charged with four counts of felony criminal endangerment, fleeing from a peace officer, obstructing a peace officer, and operating a motor vehicle with expired registration.

The information in this article was obtained from sources that are publicly available.