Hearing set in eluding, assault case

SANDPOINT - A preliminary hearing is pending for a Clark Fork man accused of ramming his pickup into a Bonner County Sheriff's deputy during a high-speed chase on June 20.

Tyson Michael Pieper denies he was involved in the pursuit and claims his truck had been stolen, according to a police report. Deputies rejected Pieper's claims and arrested him on charges of eluding, aggravated assault on a law officer, filing a false report and obstruction.

His bail was set at $105,000 and a preliminary hearing is set for Wednesday.

Deputy Clint Mattingley said in his report he was on patrol on Clark Fork when he spotted two pickup trucks racing down Third Avenue. When Mattingley began following them, the rigs split up at Stephens Street.

The deputy began following a Ford pickup registered to Pieper. The truck crossed over the Clark Fork River

with speeds reportedly reaching 70 mph. The pursuit continued onto River Road.

Mattingley reportedly pulled abreast of the rig while they were doing about 60 mph and the pickup rammed the rear quarter panel of deputy's sport utility vehicle. The patrol unit was struck again when the pickup veered off the road and Mattingley attempted to block the truck from regaining the roadway.

The chase continued into Montana and the pickup ultimately turned off on a side road and lost the deputy in cloud of dust, the report said.

Pieper allegedly called dispatch on June 21 to report that his rig was stolen when he left it parked outside a Clark Fork bar with the keys in the ignition. Mattingley responded to the report and arrested Pieper after identifying him as the driver in the pursuit.

Pieper's truck was discovered on June 23 near the Cabinet Gorge Hatchery, the defendant's workplace, court records said.