Eluding suspect denies he was driving

SANDPOINT — A Bonner County man arrested following a high-speed chase that ended in a crash on Wednesday night contends he was not behind the wheel during the incident.

Seth Thomas Mills told investigators he was a back-seat passenger during the chase, although he was unable to identify his companions in the vehicle, a sheriff’s deputy’s report said.

Mills, 33, is charged with felony eluding, drunken driving and leaving the scene of an injury crash. He’s also under investigation for kidnapping for allegedly pointing a pistol at a known passenger in the Jeep Wrangler, according to sheriff’s officials.

Mills’ bail was set at $27,500 on Friday and Judge Barbara Buchanan appointed a public defender to represent him, court records show. A preliminary hearing on the eluding charge is pending.

Sandpoint Police attempted to stop the sport utility vehicle at about 9 p.m., after Bonner County dispatchers received a report that it was being driving recklessly on U.S. Highway 95. Mills failed to yield, touching off a high-speed pursuit that progressed to Highway 200.

A device meant to puncture the SUV’s tires was placed at the corner of Highway 200 and Colburn Culver Road, by Mills managed to avoid it when he turned onto the county road.

The chase continued onto Rapid Lightning Road, but officers broke off the pursuit because of road conditions and poor visibility. Within minutes, the Jeep had reportedly overturned in the 8500 block.

A 19-year-old passenger was found near the crash scene and taken to Bonner General Hospital with neck, back and abdominal injuries. The passenger identified Mills as the driver and said Mills leveled the gun at him during the episode.

The passenger was treated and later released from the hospital, a deputy’s report said. Mills was initially charged with aggravated drunken driving, but the offense was reduced to a misdemeanor because the passenger’s injuries were not severe enough to justify a charge at the felony level, court records indicate.

Mills left the scene and was subsequently located at his Upper Gold Creek Road home. Mills told a sheriff’s deputy he had been at a downtown bar, where he met up with an male and two females, none of whom he was able to identify or describe beyond the color of their hair.

Mills said one of the females wanted to drive the SUV and he obliged, the deputy’s report said. Mills said he remembered little about the incident and added that he drank a bottle of wine and several beers after arriving at his home following the crash.

A blood sample was drawn from Mills, but the results were not listed in court documents.

Court records indicate a dog on Rapid Lightning was struck and killed by a patrol vehicle during the pursuit.